BULLETIN 1
Experts Develop Gene-Edited Pigs Resistant to Classical Swine Fever

Researchers from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, University of Lübeck, and University of Edinburgh have successfully developed gene-edited pigs resistant to classical swine fever, a highly infectious and often deadly viral disease that threatens the livestock industry worldwide. The genetic modification provided the animals' protection from infection without affecting their health or development.
The research team edited a gene that produces a pig protein called DNAJC14 to prevent the virus from reproducing inside pig cells. The gene-edited pigs showed no signs of infection over several weeks of observation, while the unedited pigs displayed typical symptoms of the disease. “Our research highlights the growing potential of gene editing in livestock to improve animal health and support sustainable agriculture,” said Dr. Simon Lillico, Core Scientist at the Roslin Institute.
The findings of the study, published in Trends in Biotechnology, open opportunities to develop livestock species resistant to multiple viral diseases. The same genetic approach could also be applied to other animals, such as cattle and sheep, to combat related pestiviruses. As classical swine fever continues to cause major outbreaks across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, the breakthrough could help reduce trade restrictions and financial losses faced by farmers.
For more information, read the article from the University of Edinburgh or the study from Trends in Biotechnology.
See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21571

 

BULLETIN 2
High-Biomass Sorghum Hybrids Show Yield Gains with Nitrogen Management

 

A recent study highlights the potential of high-biomass sorghum hybrids as a superior feedstock for biofuels and bioproducts, showing that their performance can be precisely optimized through tailored nitrogen fertility management.
Researchers evaluated the biomass yield potential and feedstock quality of several hybrids across various environments and nitrogen application rates. They successfully identified specific hybrids that not only delivered high yields but also maintained excellent quality—a critical balance for efficient conversion into renewable energy. This finding confirms that sorghum, which is already naturally drought-tolerant, is an increasingly viable and attractive crop for sustainable fuel production.
The research provides valuable tools for precision agriculture, enabling farmers and breeders to select the most suitable sorghum hybrid and apply the optimal nitrogen management strategy for their specific location. The ability to fine-tune growing conditions to maximize both yield and the chemical composition (like cellulose and lignin content) of the biomass means a more predictable and high-quality supply chain for the bioenergy sector. By connecting hybrid selection with fertility management, this work accelerates the development of efficient and economically viable bioenergy crops.
For more details, read this article.
See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21569

 

SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Black pepper knowledge base (BlackPepKB): a centralized web resource for functional genomics of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)
L M D Bawanga, D R R Wijewardene, Praveena Sarathchandra, S Viswakula, Anushka M Wickramasuriya

BMC Genomics; 2025 Oct 17; 26(1):929. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-12134-3.

 

  

ABSTRACT
Background: Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a highly valued spice crop with significant economic, medicinal, and cultural importance. While genomic and transcriptomic data for black pepper have rapidly accumulated in recent years, there is currently no dedicated genomic database to serve as a centralized web resource for the research and breeding community. Furthermore, despite the availability of a reference genome, the functional annotation of its proteome and a comprehensive repertoire of its transcription factors (TFs) remain incomplete.
Results: We identified a total of 2,503 TF-encoding genes in black pepper (PnTFs), classified into 62 TF families. Notably, 471 intronless PnTF genes were identified, with more than 50% of genes in families such as Dof, ERF, GeBP, GRAS, NF-YB, RAV, TCP, Trihelix, and ZF-HD, suggesting their potential roles in regulating stress responses. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 171 hub PnTFs that may serve as key regulators in diverse biological processes. In addition, Gene Ontology-based functional annotation of 63,463 proteins in black pepper revealed that 35,670 (56.2%) were annotated with at least one GO term. To support continued research and data exploration, we developed Black Pepper Knowledge Base (BlackPepKB), a user-friendly, integrative genomic platform for black pepper. BlackPepKB hosts genomic, transcriptomic, and functional annotation data, and incorporates interactive tools to enhance data accessibility. Key features include an electronic Fluorescent Pictograph (eFP) browser for visualizing gene expression patterns across tissues and developmental stages, JBrowse2 for genome navigation, BLAST for sequence similarity searches, and GeneViz for exon-intron gene structure visualization. Additionally, PepperExp and PepperClust tools enable heatmap generation and hierarchical clustering of gene expression data, while GO-Pep facilitates the retrieval of GO terms. The platform also offers user-friendly interfaces for querying single nucleotide polymorphisms and exploring TF families in black pepper.
Conclusion: BlackPepKB serves as the first dedicated genomic database for black pepper, providing a comprehensive and accessible platform for functional genomics research. This work lays a solid foundation for advancing genetic research and molecular breeding in black pepper. BlackPepKB is publicly accessible at: https://black-pepper-genomic-resource.vercel.app/ .
See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41107735/

 

  
Figure:
Chromosomal distribution of PnTF families. The heatmap shows the distribution of PnTF-encoding genes across chromosomes, with each cell indicating the number of genes for a specific TF family on that chromosome. The color intensity in each cell provides a visual representation of the gene density for each TF family across different chromosomes