Search Results (96,087)

We examined the infective capacity of the mermithid nematodes, Romanomermis iyengari, Romanomermis culicivorax, Romanomermis wuchangensis, and Strelkovimermis spiculatus in fourth-instar mosquito larvae nearing pupation of Aedes aegypti, Aedes sierrensis, and Culex pipiens to determine their prevalence in the adults of these mosquitoes. We exposed 100 fourth-instar larvae to pre-parasitic nematodes (juvenile 2 stages) at a ratio of 10:1 (10 nematodes per mosquito larvae). Two days after the nematode applications, a sample of 20 pupae was taken and placed into transparent plastic cups with distilled water to observe the development and growth of pupae until they reached the adult phase with nematodes inside. The four species of nematodes showed the highest prevalence of infection on the Cx. pipiens mosquito, exceeding 55% parasitism, while R. wuchangensis and R. iyengari surpassed this value on Ae. sierrensis by 61.11% and 57.89%. Aedes aegypti was the least susceptible to nematodes, with parasitism values between 30% and 40%. In laboratory settings, we obtained high rates (26.32–77.78%) of parasitized adults when the three-mosquito species in fourth-instar larvae nearing pupation were exposed to infective nematodes. R. wuchangensis (1.86) and S. spiculatus (1.80) were infected Cx. pipiens with greater intensity and R. iyengari (1.33) and R. culicivorax (1.09) with less intensity. This evaluation offers valuable insights into the variability of nematode prevalence of infection and infectivity in fourth-instar larvae, which host mermithids capable of progressing through the pupal stage to adulthood. Full article

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin mainly produced by certain species of Aspergillus and Penicillium and is a serious threat to human health and food safety. Previous studies showed that Brevundimonas naejangsanensis ML17 can completely degrade 1 μg/mL of OTA. The aim of this study was to investigate the degradation effect of ML17 at different concentrations of OTA, and specifically, to investigate the mechanism of OTA degradation by ML17. The growth of ML17 was not affected by exposure to 6 μg/mL OTA within 24 h. ML17 could almost completely degrade 12 μg/mL of OTA within 36 h, converting it into the non-toxic OTα and L-phenylalanine. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 275 genes were upregulated, whereas three genes were downregulated in ML17 under the stress of 1 μg/mL OTA. Functional enrichment analysis showed that exposure to OTA enhanced translation, amide and peptide biosynthesis and metabolism, promoted oxidative phosphorylation, and increased ATP production. Further analysis revealed that, when exposed to OTA, ML17 exerted a stress-protective effect by synthesizing large amounts of heat shock proteins, which contributed to the correct folding of proteins. Notably, genes related to antioxidant activity, such as peroxiredoxin, superoxide dismutase, and glutaredoxin 3, were significantly upregulated, indicating that ML17 can resist the toxic effects of OTA through adjusting its metabolic processes, and the enzyme-coding gene0095, having OTA degradation activity, was found to be upregulated. This suggests that ML17 can achieve OTA degradation by regulating its metabolism, upregulating its antioxidant system, and upregulating enzyme-encoding genes with OTA degradation activity. Our work provides a theoretical reference for clarifying the mechanism of OTA degradation by ML17. Full article

Wuzhizhou Island (WZZ) is one of the most mature tourism islands on the coast of the South China Sea, and its surrounding waters are rich in tropical coral reef fishes. Tourism could affect marine biodiversity, especially the coral reef fish community. In order to understand the species diversity of fish surrounding WZZ, environmental DNA (eDNA) samples were collected from six sampling sites around the island, located in the core and non-core tourism areas, respectively, from 2022 to 2023. In total, 188 fish species, belonging to 124 genera, 63 families and 17 orders, were detected using eDNA method. The Perciformes contained the highest number of species (n = 130, 69.15% of total number). Compared to traditional fishing nets, eDNA could provide more information on fish species. The results indicated that species richness and Margalef’s index were higher at the sampling sites in the core area of tourism of WZZ, which maybe relevant to tourism-based provisioning. By contrast, the Shannon–Wiener index, Pielou’s index and dominant species of fish did not display significant differences between core and non-core tourism areas. On the basis of the results of the β-diversity index, the differences in fish communities had a closer relationship to geographical location. Furthermore, there were obvious differences in fish communities in different seasons, which may be attributed to the influence of ocean currents. Full article

Background: The emergence and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) have become a serious global threat, as the morbidity and mortality associated with ARB infections are continuously rising. The activation of quorum sensing (QS) genes can promote biofilm formation, which contributes to the acquisition of drug resistance and increases virulence. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents to control ARB and prevent further development. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally occurring defense molecules in organisms known to suppress pathogens through a broad range of antimicrobial mechanisms. Methods: In this study, we utilized a previously developed deep-learning model to identify AMP candidates from the venom gland transcriptome of the spider Pardosa astrigera, followed by experimental validation. Results: PA-Win2 was among the top-scoring predicted peptides and was selected based on physiochemical features. Subsequent experimental validation demonstrated that PA-Win2 inhibits the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MRPA) strain CCARM 2095. The peptide exhibited strong bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa, and MRPA CCARM 2095 through the depolarization of bacterial cytoplasmic membranes and alteration of gene expression associated with bacterial survival. In addition, PA-Win2 effectively inhibited biofilm formation and degraded pre-formed biofilms of P. aeruginosa. The gene expression study showed that the peptide treatment led to the downregulation of QS genes in the Las, Pqs, and Rhl systems. Conclustions: These findings suggest PA-Win2 as a promising drug candidate against ARB and demonstrate the potential of in silico methods in discovering functional peptides from biological data. Full article

The role of trees in watershed hydrology is governed by many environmental factors along with their inherent characteristics and not surprisingly has generated diverse debates in the literature. Herein, this conceptual meta-analysis provides an opportunity to propose a conceptual model for understanding the role of trees in watershed hydrology and examine the conditions under which they can be an element that increases or decreases water supply in a watershed. To achieve this goal, this conceptual meta-analysis addressed the interaction of forest cover with climatic conditions, soil types, infiltration, siltation and erosion, water availability, and the diversity of ecological features. The novelty of the proposed conceptual model highlights that tree species and densities, climate, precipitation, type of aquifer, and topography are important factors affecting the relationships between trees and water availability. This suggests that forests can be used as a nature-based solution for conserving and managing natural resources, including water, soil, and air. To sum up, forests can reduce people’s footprint, thanks to their role in improving water and air quality, conserving soil, and other ecosystem services. The outcomes of this study should be valuable for decision-makers in understanding the types of forests that can be used in an area, following an approach of environmental sustainability and conservation aiming at restoring hydrological services, mitigating the costs of environmental services, promoting sustainable land use, managing water resources, and preserving and restoring soil water availability (SWA) when investing in reforestation for watershed hydrology, which is important for the human population and other activities. Full article

Vitis vinifera is highly susceptible to grapevine trunk diseases, with Neofusicoccum parvum recognized as a highly destructive pathogen. This study investigates the biocontrol potential of five Trichoderma species (T. harzianum, T. viride, T. asperellum, and T. virens) against N. parvum, evaluating multiple biocontrol mechanisms (mycoparasitism, competition for nutrients, production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and antibiosis) as well as their compatibility with the fungicides copper oxychloride and sulfur. Results demonstrated that (1) Trichoderma harzianum effectively suppressed N. parvum through VOC production, mycoparasitism, and nutrient competition, significantly reducing pathogen growth in planta while showing compatibility with both fungicides, highlighting its suitability for integrated disease management; (2) Trichoderma viride showed high inhibition of N. parvum in vitro, but its phytotoxicity in planta limits its field application. These findings support T. harzianum as a promising agent within integrated disease management strategies, offering a sustainable alternative to reduce chemical fungicide reliance in controlling grapevine trunk pathogens. Full article

Lathyrus odoratus L., commonly known as sweet pea, is a plant with a distinctive aroma that can develop in various habitats. An analysis of the aromatic profile of the species was conducted using the HS-SPME (solid-phase microextraction headspace) technique. This study aimed to explore the composition of and variation in the floral scent emissions of L. odorathus. The floral scents from fresh flowers were collected over different months and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry on apolar and polar stationary phase columns. In the apolar column, the majority compounds included linalool (19.27–5.79%), α-trans-bergamotene (29.4–14.21%), and phenyl ethyl alcohol (30.01–1.56%), while on the polar column, the predominant compounds included myrcene (13.25%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (26.33–8.16%), α-trans-bergamotene (42.09–24.82%), and others. This investigation was complemented by enantioselective analysis using a chiral phase based in cyclodextrins, which revealed the presence of (1R)-(+)-α-pinene, (S)-(−)-limonene, (R)-(+)-germacrene D, and (R)-(E)-nerolidol as enantiomerically pure components and linalool as a racemic mixture. Notably, the principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap revealed variations among the chemical compounds collected at different harvest times. This demonstrates that temporal factors indeed impact chemical compound production. Furthermore, research on the aromatic properties of flowers provides a theoretical basis for studying and improving the components of their scent. Full article

Plants belonging to the Ilex species are distinguished by their rich composition of diverse phenolic compounds and various bioactive substances, which demonstrate dual functionalities in therapeutic applications and health promotion. In recent years, these plants have garnered significant interest among researchers. While the application scope of plant polyphenols (PPs) is extensive, the exploration and utilization of holly polyphenols (HPs) remain comparatively underexplored. This article reviews the research advancements regarding the predominant phenolic compounds present in commonly studied Ilex species over the past five years and summarizes the application studies of PPs across various domains, including pharmacological applications, food technology, health supplements, and cosmetic formulations. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the systematic research and development of HPs, offering references and recommendations to enhance their value. Full article

Microplants are vegetables, grains and aromatic herbs that are consumed in the stage of young plants, without roots, developed after the germination stage, in the stage of cotyledons and which have a high content of nutrients (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, lutein, β-carotene, proteins and fibers, etc.), which makes them functional, concentrated foods capable of feeding the world’s ever-growing population. The significant amounts of antioxidants in microgreens have the role of neutralizing free radicals and reducing their harmful impact on human health. The microgreens studied were spinach (Spinacia oleracea) cultivar ‘Lorelay’, mustard (Sinapis alba) cultivar ‘White’ and radish (Raphanus sativus) cultivar ‘Red Rambo’, tested on hemp and coconut substrates and under the influence of the organic biostimulator Biohumussol, based on humic acids. The antioxidant content of the plants was determined by analyzing total carotenoids, lycopene, chlorophyll, β-carotene, polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH methods. The obtained results indicated that the reaction of the plant material depends on the composition of the substrate and the presence of the applied biostimulator. The highest contents of substances with an antioxidant role were obtained from the microgreens on the hemp substrate, especially mustard and radishes, and the biostimulator proved to be compatible with the spinach microgreens. Full article

Forest–steppe ecosystems represent a heterogeneous small-patch landscape important as a biodiversity hotspot and habitat for many endangered species. In this work, we examine threatened forest–steppe communities using structural indices, browsing intensity and indices that consider herbivorous game preferences. The study aims to assess the abundance of natural regeneration and the browsing intensity in relation to different stand structures and to identify woody species threatened by selective browsing at three study sites on the Krupina Plateau in the southern part of central Slovakia. At each study site, three circular permanent research plots (PRPs), each 500 m² in size, were established for stand structure analysis. Within each PRP, nine circular subplots with a radius of 2 m were established for detailed analysis of natural regeneration. The results of this study suggest that forest patches in the forest–steppe mosaic suffer from a long-term lack of natural regeneration, which is induced mainly by increasing aridity and ungulate pressure. Positive effects on the amount of natural regeneration were noted in association with the aggregated structure of forest patches and the presence of dead wood. Differentiated stand structure influenced the regeneration number in a negative way and at the same time significantly increased browsing intensity. In relation to a more advanced regeneration, shrubs had a protective effect against browsing. The feeding preferences of the animals can positively modulate the species composition and eliminate the imbalances in the regeneration in favor of the increasingly rare Quercus pubescens Willd. Full article

Roe deer meat is a prized game product in many European countries. However, concerns exist regarding the accuracy of the amount of declared roe deer in processed game meat foods. This study aimed to develop a reliable method for the detection and quantification of roe deer in commercialized game meat products. A TaqMan probe-based quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was designed, targeting a single-copy 120-bp region of the roe deer agouti signaling protein (ASIP) encoding gene. The method employed the normalized ∆Cq approach to establish a calibration curve for roe deer detection and quantification within 0.05–50% (w/w) in complex raw and processed matrices. The method proved to be specific for roe deer identification, achieving limits of detection and quantification of 0.04 ng of roe deer DNA and 0.05% (w/w) of roe deer in simulated pâté. Following validation with blind samples, highlighting the precision and trueness of the approach, the assay was applied to 46 market samples from four European origins (Poland, Portugal, France, and Spain). The analysis revealed significant discrepancies between declared roe deer content and actual levels in all roe deer labeled products. The global analysis of results, combining the previous survey on red deer species with present roe deer data, identified 61% of mislabeled/adulterated samples due to the absence of deer species, substitution of roe deer with red deer, substitution of fallow deer with other deer species and red deer with pork, and undeclared addition of roe deer. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed qPCR method for accurate roe deer meat authentication in foods, showing its usefulness as a tool for routine food inspection to ensure labeling compliance. Full article

Organisms occupy diverse ecological niches worldwide, each with characteristics finely evolved for their environments. Crustaceans residing in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, recognized as one of Earth’s extreme environments, may have adapted to withstand severe conditions, including elevated temperatures and pressure. This study compares the exoskeletons of two vent crustaceans (bythograeid crab Austinograea sp. and squat lobster Munidopsis lauensis) with four coastal species (Asian paddle crabs, blue crab, hermit crab, and mantis shrimp) to identify traits influenced by vent environments. The goal was to identify distinctive exoskeletal characteristics commonly observed in vent crustaceans, resulting from their exposure to severe abiotic factors, including elevated temperatures and pressures, found in vent environments. Results show that the exoskeletons of vent crustaceans demonstrated significantly enhanced thermal stability compared to coastal species. These vent crustaceans consistently featured exoskeletons characterized by a reduced proportion of volatile components, such as water, and an increased proportion of CaCO₃, compared with coastal crustaceans. Furthermore, vent crustaceans lacked carotenoid pigments that had low heat resistance. However, no apparent differences were observed in the mechanical properties. Our findings suggest that the similar composition of exoskeletons in vent crustaceans evolved convergently to withstand high temperatures. Full article

This paper presents the basis for LoGlo PDT, a new treatment for glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is currently treated with maximal safe resection, temozolomide, and ionizing irradiation. Mortality in 2024 remains over 80% within several years from diagnosis. Oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is an FDA/EMA approved drug that is selectively taken up by malignant cells, including by glioblastoma. In photodynamic treatment of glioblastoma, intense intraoperative light causes glioblastoma tissue that has taken up 5-ALA to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. The requirement for intense light flux has restricted photodynamic treatment to a single one-hour intraoperative session. We analyze here published data showing that external light, illuminating the entire intact scalp, can attain low μW/cm² flux several cm into intact brain that would be sufficient to mediate 5-ALA photodynamic treatment of glioblastoma if the light and 5-ALA are delivered continuously over 24 h. At the core of LoGlo PDT regimen is the dataset showing that, for a given fluence, as the duration of PDT light delivery goes down, light intensity (flux) delivered must go up to achieve the same glioblastoma cell cytotoxicity as would a weaker light (lower flux) delivered over a longer time. Thus, a repetitive, noninvasive PDT of glioblastoma using an external light source may be possible. We analyze 5-ALA cellular physiology to show that three non-oncology drugs, ciprofloxacin, deferiprone, and telmisartan, can be repurposed to increase light energy capture after 5-ALA, thereby increasing photodynamic treatment’s glioblastoma cell cytotoxicity. The LoGlo PDT approach uses both drug augmentation and prolonged ultra-low noninvasive transcranial light delivery for a repetitive, noninvasive 5-ALA photodynamic treatment of glioblastoma. Full article

This study delves into the multifaceted realm of citrus fruits, exploring their significance and socioeconomic implications from their early introduction to Western Muslim and Renaissance gardens, tracing their journey throughout history. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from biological, archaeobotanical, iconographic, and textual sources, our study offers a comprehensive exploration of citrus symbolism and cultural significance, integrating historical, artistic, horticultural, and socioeconomic viewpoints. The genus Citrus (Rutaceae) comprises around thirty species and its natural habitat spans from the southern slopes of the Himalayas to China, Southeast Asia, nearby islands, and Queensland. Originating from only four of these species, humans have cultivated hundreds of hybrids and thousands of varieties, harnessing their culinary, medicinal, and ornamental potential worldwide. We delve into the symbolic value of citrus fruits, which have served as indicators of economic status and power. From their early presence in Mediterranean religious rituals to their depiction in opulent Roman art and mythical narratives like the Garden of the Hesperides, citrus fruits have epitomized luxury and desire. Christian lore intertwines them with the forbidden fruit of Eden, while Islamic and Sicilian gardens and Renaissance villas signify their prestige. We analyze diverse perspectives, from moralists to hedonists, and examine their role in shaping global agriculture, exemplified by rare varieties like aurantii foetiferi. Full article

Pinus koraiensis is classified as a second-class protected wild plant in China, recognized for its considerable economic and ecological importance. However, progress in functional research and breeding applications for this species has been hindered by the lack of an effective genetic transformation system. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and efficient genetic transformation system for a Pinus koraiensis embryonic callus using somatic embryogenesis technology. The Pinus koraiensis embryonic callus and β-glucuronidase (GUS) were employed as the reporter gene in an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to investigate critical transformation factors, including antibiotic type and concentration, Agrobacterium bacterial solution concentration, infiltration, and co-cultivation times. The findings indicated that the proliferation of the Pinus koraiensis embryonic callus was substantially inhibited by 10 mg·L⁻¹ of Hygromycin (Hyg), and a remarkable 93.42 ± 2.13% efficiency was achieved with an OD600 absorbance value of 0.6 during transformation. Two days of optimal co-cultivation yielded a transformation rate of 82.61%, with the resistant embryonic callus exhibiting a high GUS staining rate of 88.89%. Resistant somatic embryos were effectively obtained following the optimized protocol. This research contributes to the advancement of seed resource breeding and genetic enhancement for Pinus koraiensis, establishing a solid foundation for the investigation of gene functions specific to this species. Full article