Qingyou Liu

Buffaloes are vital livestock in South-East Asia, attributed to their adaptation to hot and humid climates as well as their capacity to produce high-quality milk and meat. However, the texture of buffalo meat is suboptimal and its slow growth rate restricts the development of the buffalo farming industry. Consequently, studies exploring the key biochemical factors associated with buffalo muscle development have become a research focus. CircRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs which can function as molecular sponges, participate in protein scaffold formation, and encode short peptides. Previous studies have shown that circRNAs are capable of regulating muscle development; however, relatively few reports have addressed their association with buffalo muscle development. In this study, data from Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that circCOPS8 significantly enhanced the differentiation of buffalo myoblasts while inhibiting their proliferation (p < 0.05). In contrast, in a mouse model of muscular injury, circCOPS8 prevented the repair of injured muscles. Additionally, RIP-qPCR assays confirmed that circCOPS8 could bind to IGF2BP3 (p < 0.05). Furthermore RT-qPCR and transcriptome sequencing results revealed that circCOPS8 inhibited cell growth by upregulating the expression of genes such as ATR (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that circCOPS8 promoted the differentiation and apoptosis of buffalo myoblasts while inhibiting their proliferation. The inhibition of cell proliferation was primarily mediated by the binding of circCOPS8 to IGF2BP3 and the promotion of ATR gene expression. This study investigated the role and underlying mechanism of circCOPS8 in buffalo myoblasts, which will extend our understanding of non-coding RNA-mediated regulation of buffalo muscle development, with the ultimate goal of improving the meat quality of buffaloes.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent intestinal disorder with rising global incidence, yet its complex pathogenesis remains poorly understood, underscoring the need to clarify the microbial mechanisms underlying intestinal inflammation. IBD is associated with a profound imbalance of the gut microbial ecosystem. However, the ecological and functional remodeling of the gut microbiota during IBD progression remains unclear. This study used metagenomic sequencing to investigate microbial composition, functional capacity, and ecological interactions in the gut microbiota of IBD patients compared with healthy individuals. Results: The IBD group exhibited significantly reduced microbial diversity and a distinct community structure compared with healthy controls. Pro-inflammatory genera such as g_ Fusobacterium ( p < 0.001) and g_ Morganella ( p < 0.001) were enriched, whereas short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, including g_ Ruminococcus ( p < 0.0001) and g_ Agathobacter ( p < 0.0001), were markedly depleted. Functional annotation revealed decreased abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (GH3, GH44, GH53, and GH77; all p < 0.05) associated with polysaccharide degradation, together with enrichment of pathways related to immune activation and inflammation, such as the JAK–STAT and chemokine signaling pathways ( p < 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis further showed that IBD-associated microbes formed positively correlated clusters dominated by inflammatory taxa, whereas healthy microbiota were organized around SCFA-producing commensals. Conclusion: Compared with healthy individuals, the gut microbiota of IBD patients undergoes functional reprogramming characterized by loss of metabolic versatility and enrichment of inflammation-related pathways. These findings provide new insights into the ecological and metabolic mechanisms through which the gut microbiota contribute to intestinal inflammation and disease progression.

Dairy products contain complex types and contents of proteins, lipids, and lactose. The Maillard reaction (MR) occurs between proteins and reducing sugars during the processing and storage of dairy products. Maillard reaction products (MRPs) have garnered attention for their potential antioxidant activity. MRPs include melanoidins, reductones, and volatile heterocyclic compounds, which affect flavor and color. Relevant literature was identified through a structured search of PubMed and Web of Science; studies were included if they investigated MRPs in dairy products and reported antioxidant-related outcomes. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the MR in dairy products, systematically investigating the influence of protein, reducing sugars, and their ratios, as well as reaction conditions (process technology, temperature, time, pH, and water activity) on the formation and antioxidant activity of MRPs. The review also covers current applications and the future potential of MRPs as natural antioxidants in dairy products. Although MRPs effectively delay lipid oxidation and enhance stability in dairy products, research on their molecular structure and antioxidant mechanisms remains insufficient. Future research should focus on understanding the multifactorial synergistic effects within the complex dairy matrix, elucidating the molecular structure and extraction of antioxidant substances, and developing regulatory techniques to balance the antioxidant properties of MRPs with the safety concerns of potential harmful byproducts.

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is one of the most common and detrimental diseases affecting dairy cows, causing lower milk yield and quality. Identification of pathogenic bacteria of subclinical mastitis (PSM) in dairy cows is crucial for selecting suitable antibiotic treatments and implementing effective prophylactic measures. This paper highlights the first systematic study to investigate the PSM in buffalo farms in Guangxi, China. It also analyzes the antibiotic resistance and virulence characteristics of typical PSM. The bacteriological characteristics of 132 milk samples collected from buffaloes with SCM across 3 representative buffalo farms in Guangxi, China were investigated. A total of 1659 bacterial strains were isolated and classified into 46 genera and 183 species, where 1058 bacterial strains were identified as PSM, representing 64% of the total isolates. The frequently isolated PSM in total samples were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (55.30%), Enterococcus faecalis (51.52%), Escherichia coli (31.82%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.03%). All PSM strains showed multiple antibiotic resistance. Notably, E. faecalis and Lactococcus garvieae were resistant to all 12 antibiotics, whereas Staphylococcus chromogenes (95.24%), E. coli (89.19%), K. pneumoniae (83.87%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (83.33%) were sensitive to levofloxacin (LEV). Additionally, E. coli exhibited the strongest mortality of Galleria mellonella. This study concluded that multiple PSM are present in the milk of buffaloes suffering from SCM in Guangxi, China. LEV may be a suitable antibiotic for the treatment of PSM. In the future, it is necessary to monitor the prevalence of PSM in buffalo farms and develop control strategies to prevent their spread.

Double-Layer Steamed Milk Custard (DLSMC) is a famous traditional Chinese dessert. This study aimed to analyze the flavor and the changes in metabolites during different stages of DLSMC preparation, including raw buffalo milk, thermo-processing, first and second-layer milk skin formation. Electronic nose and electronic tongue were employed to preliminarily assess the overall flavor characteristics between these stages. The results indicated that DLSMC demonstrated increased sweetness, saltiness, and umami compared to raw buffalo milk, along with heightened levels of nitrogen oxides, methane, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and sulfur-containing compounds. Thus, the thermo-processing and second-layer milk skin formation were pinpointed as critical for flavor alterations. Additionally, headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) detected a total of 46 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with 8 compounds identified as key flavor components. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 98 differential metabolites, including amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides, that were significantly linked to changes in key flavor compounds. Indeed, the fluctuations in the levels of amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides play a crucial role in influencing flavor changes during the production of DLSMC made from buffalo milk.

Guangdong province has diverse local goose breeds with unique characteristics, but there is limited research on their genetic diversity, formation history and breed-specific genes. This study uses whole-genome sequencing to analyze 120 local geese representing four officially recognized breeds and two lines of the folk breed Sanzhou Black goose, as well as five museum goose samples in the region, combined with 56 geese whole genome data from NCBI, with the aim of understanding the genetic diversity and relationships of Guangdong geese, identifying the history of breed formation, and discovering genes linked to various traits in these geese. The results show a considerable degree of genetic diversity in Guangdong local geese. The museum Sanzhou Black goose exhibit multiple ancestral components, and the Magang goose may be derived from the Sanzhou Black goose. A multitude of genes have been identified as related to various functional phenotypes in different Guangdong geese, such as fat deposition (ACER3), feather color (ACTA2), skin pigmentation (GDA), and body growth and development (ARHGAP21), collectively defining the distinctive attributes of indigenous breeds. These results provide a way to study the history of breed formation and a basis for selective breeding or utilization targeting goose breeds in Guangdong.

Introduction: Rumen microbiota and host metabolites play a key role in regulating ruminant production performance and physiological adaptation. However, the interplay between host physiological status and rumen microbial-metabolite dynamics across lactation stages in buffaloes remains unclear.Methods: This study employed a multi-omics approach, integrating metagenomic and serum metabolomic analyses, to investigate microbial remodeling and metabolic adaptations in buffaloes during lactation and dry periods.Results: Metagenomic analysis revealed increased abundances of Anaerovibrio, Succiniclasticum, and Methanobrevibacter_A during lactation, associated with lipid hydrolysis, propionate production, and methanogenesis, respectively. Glycoside hydrolase families GH2, GH3, GH5, and GH13 were enriched, indicating elevated carbohydrate degradation potential. In contrast, Butyrivibrio, Fibrobacter, and Eubacterium_Q were predominant during the dry period, contributing to fiber degradation and butyrate synthesis. Functional pathways related to niacin metabolism, bicarbonate reabsorption, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were significantly upregulated during lactation. Metabolomic profiling identified lactation-enriched metabolites such as indole-3-methylacetate, D-maltose, and gluconic acid, correlating with immune and metabolic indicators (e.g., IgA, glucose, LDL). Conversely, dry period metabolites such as 1-methylhistidine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid indicated physiological shifts toward tissue repair and stress mitigation.Discussion: The integrative analysis revealed that host physiological demands during lactation coordinate rumen microbial restructuring to enhance triglyceride degradation, fatty acid biosynthesis, and energy mobilization, thereby supporting milk production. These findings provide novel insights into the host-driven microbiome-metabolite axis underlying lactation in buffaloes.

Background/Objectives: Buffalo populations exhibit distinct genetic variations influenced by domestication history, geographic distribution, and selection pressures. This study investigates the genetic structure and differentiation of 11 buffalo populations, focusing on five loci related to milk protein (CSN1S1 and CSN3) and fat metabolism (LPL, DGAT1 and SCD). The aim is to assess genetic variation between river, swamp, and wild-type buffaloes and identify key loci contributing to population differentiation. Methods: Genetic diversity was analyzed through allele frequency distribution, the Hardy−Weinberg equilibrium testing, and observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) calculations. Population structure was assessed using principal component analysis (PCA), F_ST statistics, and phylogenetic clustering (k-means and UPGMA tree). The silhouette score (SS) and the Davies−Bouldin index (DBI) were applied to determine optimal population clustering. Results: Significant genetic differentiation was observed between river and swamp buffaloes (p < 0.001). DGAT1 and CSN3 emerged as key markers distinguishing buffalo types. The Italian Mediterranean buffalo exhibited the highest genetic diversity (Ho = 0.464; He = 0.454), while the Indonesian, Chinese, and Vietnamese populations showed low heterozygosity, likely due to selection pressures and geographic isolation. The global F_ST (0.2143; p = 0.001) confirmed moderate differentiation, with closely related populations (e.g., Nepal and Pakistan) exhibiting minimal genetic divergence, while distant populations (e.g., Egypt and Indonesia) showed marked differences, and the Romanian population showed a unique genetic position. Conclusions: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of buffalo genetic diversity and provide a valuable basis for exploiting the potential of this species in the light of future breeding and conservation strategies specific for each buffalo type.