CRISPR/Cas has emerged as potent genome editing technology and has successfully been applied in many organisms, including several plant species. However, delivery of genome editing reagents remains a challenge in plants. Here, we report a virus-based guide RNA (gRNA) delivery system for CRISPR/Cas9 mediated plant genome editing (VIGE) that can be used to precisely target genome locations and cause mutations. VIGE is performed by using a modified Cabbage Leaf Curl virus (CaLCuV) vector to express gRNAs in stable transgenic plants expressing Cas9. DNA sequencing confirmed VIGE of endogenous NbPDS3 and NbIspH genes in non-inoculated leaves because CaLCuV can infect plants systemically. Moreover, VIGE of NbPDS3 and NbIspH in newly developed leaves caused photo-bleached phenotype. These results demonstrate that geminivirus-based VIGE could be a powerful tool in plant genome editing.

Microtubules, the major components of cytoskeleton, are involved in various fundamental biological processes in plants. Recent studies in mammalian cells have revealed the importance of microtubule cytoskeleton in autophagy. However, little is known about the roles of microtubules in plant autophagy. Here, we found that ATG6 interacts with TUB8/β-tubulin 8 and colocalizes with microtubules in Nicotiana benthamiana. Disruption of microtubules by either silencing of tubulin genes or treatment with microtubule-depolymerizing agents in N. benthamiana reduces autophagosome formation during upregulation of nocturnal or oxidation-induced macroautophagy. Furthermore, a blockage of leaf starch degradation occurred in microtubule-disrupted cells and triggered a distinct ATG6-, ATG5- and ATG7-independent autophagic pathway termed starch excess-associated chloroplast autophagy (SEX chlorophagy) for clearance of dysfunctional chloroplasts. Our findings reveal that an intact microtubule network is important for efficient macroautophagy and leaf starch degradation.

Background Asian women with breast cancer are often studied in aggregate, belying significant intragroup diversity. The authors sought to examine differences in breast cancer characteristics and outcomes among Asian women. Methods Asian, non‐Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non‐Hispanic White women aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with breast cancer from 1990 to 2016 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database. Asian patients were subclassified as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, South Asian (Asian Indian or Pakistani), Southeast Asian (SEA, i.e., Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong, or Thai), or other Asian. Unadjusted overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted OS and CSS. Results In total, 910,415 women were included (Asian, n = 63,405; Black, n = 92,226; Hispanic, n = 84,451; White, n = 670,333). Asian women had higher rates of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive disease compared with White women (18.7% vs 13.8%) and had the highest 10‐year unadjusted OS and CSS among all racial/ethnic groups (all P < .001). SEA women had the highest rates of stage IV disease at presentation, whereas Japanese women had the lowest rates (5.9% vs 2.7%; P < .001). Japanese women had the highest 10‐year unadjusted CSS (89.4%; 95% confidence interval, 88.7%‐90.1%) of any distinct Asian group, whereas SEA women had the worst unadjusted CSS (78%; 95% confidence interval, 74.1%‐81.3%; P < .001). After adjustment, SEA women had the worst OS of any Asian group and were the only Asian group without improved OS compared with White women (reference category; P = .08). Conclusions Breast cancer characteristics and outcomes vary significantly among Asian women. Future research should consider disaggregation by country or region of origin to identify subgroups that are at risk for worse outcomes than aggregated data may suggest. Lay Summary Asian women with breast cancer are frequently studied as a single entity. However, Asian ethnic groups differ greatly by country of origin, genetic ancestry, disease frequency, socioeconomic status, patterns of immigration, as well as dietary and cultural practices. Women of different Asian ethnicities vary significantly with regard to cancer characteristics, such as mortality and tumor subtype. Future research should disaggregate these populations to better understand, treat, and counsel Asian patients with breast cancer.

Diversity in medicine improves patient outcomes and decreases health disparities. [1][2][3] Despite ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, however, several groups remain underrepresented in medicine (URIM). In 2021, Zhu et al 4 reported racial disparities among Black and Hispanic academic surgeons with little change over the past 12 years. Among medical schools in the US, the proportion of female matriculants has increased over time and ultimately surpassed male matriculants in 2017. 5 However, sex disparities among leadership roles persist and include editor-in-chief positions for medical student journals. 5 While several studies demonstrate disparities within particular levels of medical training, few explore the association between diversity among faculty members and diversity among learners over the course of undergraduate and graduate medical education. To better understand diversity over time and throughout the journey from learner to attending physician, we examined trends in racial, ethnic, and sex representation among medical students and surgical faculty members in the US from 2011 to 2020.