This study presents the first investigation of acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA)’s anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity in vitro and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. In HCMV Towne strain-infected WI-38 cells, AKBA (1-12 μM) exhibited negligible cytotoxicity while significantly suppressing virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) at 6–10 μM, with dose-dependent reduction of viral proteins (IE1/2 and p52) expression, viral DNA copy number (UL123, UL44, and UL32), and infectious viral progeny titer (TCID₅₀). Time-of-addition experiments demonstrated the primary antiviral activity of AKBA during post-entry phase, along with direct virion inactivation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that AKBA significantly downregulated the expression of the host factor NR4A1 induced by HCMV, a finding further validated by Western blotting. Further gene knockdown experiments confirmed that silencing NR4A1 significantly reduced the expression of viral proteins IE1/2, thereby validating NR4A1 as a key host factor for HCMV infection. These findings indicate that AKBA has a potent and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HCMV replication in WI-38 cells, and proves that this effect is mediated through two different mechanisms: one is the downregulation of the expression of the key host factor NR4A1, and the other is the direct inactivation of HCMV viral particles.

Phytoplasmas are wall-less obligate parasites of plants and insects. Several phytoplasma strains within the Peanut Witches’ Broom (PWB; 16SrII) group are associated with significant disease losses across diverse crops and weeds. We present complete, single contig genome assemblies for two Indian parthenium phyllody strains, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asiaticum’ PR34 and ‘Ca. P. australasiaticum’ PR08, generated through host DNA depletion and hybrid Illumina–Nanopore sequencing. Both genomes display characteristic features of reductive evolution (∼614 kb and 589 kb, respectively) but show notable differences from previously sequenced PWB phytoplasmas. In contrast to most of PMU-rich phytoplasma genomes, neither PR34 nor PR08 retains intact Potential Mobile Units. Instead, both harbor numerous open reading frames encoding group II intron reverse transcriptase/ maturase proteins, predominantly of the mitochondrial-like type, with PR34 containing 52 and PR08 28 such loci that together constitute > 4% of each genome. These observations support the hypothesis that intron-associated processes may contribute to genome variability in the absence of canonical PMUs. Comparative analyses support the classification of PR34 as a distinct species within the PWB complex and reveal both conserved Sec-dependent effectors (SAP05, SAP11, and SAP54/PHYL1) and lineage-specific secreted proteins with predicted nuclear localization. Additional retained features include functional sodA genes and multiple truncated HlyB-like transporters. Collectively, these high-quality genomes illustrate a genomic configuration in which extensive genome reduction and loss of PMUs coexist with the retention of core virulence factors and an expanded repertoire of group II introns, providing a framework for future investigation of genome plasticity in phytoplasmas.

Synthetic rescue (SR) describes a genetic interaction in which the deleterious effect of a primary mutation is compensated by a second mutation, restoring cellular function or viability. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SR complements synthetic lethality (SL) by revealing compensatory mechanisms that maintain essential biological processes. Classical studies established SR as a fundamental principle of genetic robustness in yeast. Subsequent development of high-throughput genetic tools, including Synthetic Genetic Array (SGA), Epistatic Miniarray Profile (E-MAP), and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), has enabled systematic identification of SR interactions across pathways of genome maintenance, proteostasis, and metabolism. Integration of these experimental datasets with computational and network-based analyses has transformed SR research from descriptive genetics into a predictive framework. Databases such as BioGRID, TheCellMap, and Mslar further support SR inference and link yeast genetic networks to human disease models. Understanding SR has important translational implications. The same compensatory logic that restores viability in yeast can explain therapeutic resistance in cancer cells. Together, these insights reveal SR as a powerful concept connecting microbial genetics with systems medicine, emphasizing that robustness and resilience are dynamic properties of living systems.

Two novel bacterial species, designated as CJ85^T and CJ88^T, were isolated from the agricultural soil and the Han River, South Korea, respectively. Cells of both strains were Gram-staining-positive, short rod-shaped, non-motile, and yellow-pigmented. Strain CJ85^T exhibited optimal growth in tryptic soy broth at 37°C and pH 7.0 in the absence of NaCl. Strain CJ88^T showed optimal growth in lysogeny broth at 30°C and pH 7.0 in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CJ85^T belonged to the genus Paramicrobacterium, showing the highest sequence similarity to Paramicrobacterium fandaimingii HY82^T (97.6%). Strain CJ88^T was assigned to the genus Microbacterium, with the highest sequence similarity to Microbacterium azadirachtae DSM 23848^T (98.5%). The DNA G + C content was 64.8% for strain CJ85^T and 70.5% for strain CJ88^T. The genome-based analyses, including phylogenomic tree, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average nucleotide identity, clearly indicated that these strains represent novel species within their respective genera. The major fatty acids of both strains were anteiso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0, and iso-C_16:0. Based on the polyphasic taxonomy study, strains CJ85^T and CJ88^T represent novel species of the genera Paramicrobacterium and Microbacterium, respectively, for which names Paramicrobacterium salitolerans sp. nov. and Microbacterium fluminis sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains CJ85^T (= KACC 23064^T = JCM 36217^T) and CJ88^T (= KACC 24080^T = JCM 38050^T).