Sous-vide is a process in which food is vacuum-sealed and prepared in a water bath, heated to a precise temperature, and circulated in a sous-vide machine. This cooking technique is increasingly common in homes and catering establishments due to its simplicity and affordability. However, manufacturers' and chefs' recommendations for low-temperature and long-term sous-vide cooking in media raise food safety concerns, particularly when preparing beef tenderloin. In this study, Salmonella enterica was found to be inactivated by heat and sage essential oil (EO) in beef tenderloin from musculus psoas major that had undergone sous-vide processing. To determine whether heat treatment was likely to increase the sous-vide efficiency, S. enterica and sage EO were mixed. After being vacuum-packed and injected with S. enterica, the samples were cooked sous-vide for the prescribed time at 50, 55, 60, or 65 °C. On days 1, 3, and 6, the amounts of S. enterica, total bacteria, and coliform bacteria were measured in both groups of sous vide beef tenderloin. Mass spectrometry was used to identify bacterial strains on various days and categories. Each day that was measured, the test group exposed to a temperature of 50 °C for 5 minutes had a higher number of all microbiota. The most isolated microorganisms from the control and treated groups were Pseudomonas fragi, and in the treated group also S. enterica. It has been shown that adding sage essence oil (EO) in combination with the sous-vide gastronomic method leads to the stabilization and safety of beef tenderloin.

This review article deals with the pathways of cellular and global molybdate distribution in plants, especially with a full overview for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In its oxidized state as bioavailable molybdate, molybdenum can be absorbed from the environment. Especially in higher plants, molybdenum is indispensable as part of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco), which is responsible for functionality as a prosthetic group in a variety of essential enzymes like nitrate reductase and sulfite oxidase. Therefore, plants need mechanisms for molybdate import and transport within the organism, which is accomplished via high-affinity molybdate transporter (MOT) localized in different cells and membranes. Two different MOT-families were identified. Especially legumes like Glycine max or Medicago truncatula have an increased numbers of MOT1-family members for supplying their symbionts with molybdate for nitrogenase activity. In Arabidopsis thaliana especially, the complete way of molybdate through the plant is traceable. Not only the uptake from soil by MOT1.1 and its distribution to leaves, flowers and seeds by MOT2-family members was identified, but also inside the cell the transport trough the cytoplasm and the vacuolar storage mechanisms depending on glutathione were described. Finally, supplying the Moco biosynthesis complex by MOT1.2 and MOT2.1 was demonstrated.

Hemolysin II (HlyII) – one of the pathogenic factors of Bacillus cereus, a pore-forming β-barrel toxin – possesses a C-terminal extension of 94 amino acid residues, designated as the C-terminal domain of HlyII (HlyIICTD), which plays an important role in the functioning of the toxin. Our previous work described a monoclonal antibody (HlyIIC-20), capable of strain-specific inhibi-tion of hemolysis caused by HlyII, and demonstrated the dependence of the efficiency of hemol-ysis on the presence of proline at position 324 in HlyII outside the conformational antigenic de-terminant. In this work, we studied 16 mutant forms of HlyIICTD. Each of the mutations, ob-tained by multiple site-directed mutagenesis leading to the replacement of amino acid residues lying on the surface of the 3D structure of HlyIICTD, led to a decrease in the interaction of HlyIIC-20 with the mutant form of the protein. Changes in epitope structure confirm the high conformational mobility of HlyIICTD required for the functioning of HlyII. Comparison of the effect of the introduced mutations on the effectiveness of interaction between HlyIICTD and HlyIIC-20 and a control antibody recognizing a non-overlapping epitope enabled identifying the amino acid residues N339, K340 included in the conformational antigenic determinant rec-ognized by HlyIIC-20.

Peptidoglycan hydrolases are enzymes that cleave the peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall, facilitating cell growth, cell division, and peptidoglycan turnover. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri), the causal agent of citrus canker, encodes an Escherichia coli M23 peptidase EnvC homolog. EnvC is a LytM factor required for septal peptidoglycan splitting and daughter cell separation. In this study we investigate how EnvC contributes to the virulence and cell separation of X. citri. We observed that disruption of the X. citri envC gene (ΔenvC) led to a reduction in virulence. Upon inoculation into leaves of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck), the X. citri ΔenvC mutant showed a delay in causing citrus canker symptoms compared with the wild-type X. citri strain. Mutant complementation restored the X. citri wild type phenotype. Subcellular localization confirmed that X. citri EnvC is a periplasmic protein. Moreover, the X. citri ΔenvC mutant exhibited elongated cells, indicative of a cell division defect. These findings support the role of EnvC in regulating virulence, cell wall organization, and cell division in X. citri.

Whiteflies of Aleurocanthus spiniferus and A. woglumi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are serious pests of citrus and other important fruit crops. The problem in citrus has initiated the successful introductions of several natural enemies for biocontrol programs in Hawaii and many other countries. Here we summarized the history of infestation and biocontrol efforts of the two whiteflies in Hawaii for possible importation into Greece. Two Platygasteridae (Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, A. spiniferus (Brethes) and three Aphelinidae (Encarsia clypealis (Silvestri), E. smithi (Silvestri), E. perplexa Huang and Polaszek) were released in Hawaii for biocontrol of the citrus whiteflies during the period 1974-1999. The aphelinid, Cales noacki Howard, purposely released for Aleurothrixus flococcus (Maskell) in 1982 was also reported to attack other whiteflies including Aleurocanthus species on citrus. An additional aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia nipponica Silvestri, native to Japan and China, was accidently introduced and found to attack both citrus whiteflies on the islands. Since the colonization of introduced parasitoids in infested fields on four Hawaiian Islands, no survey was done to evaluate their potential impact. We made two short surveys during September-November 2022 on Kauai, Hawaii, and Oahu Islands to introduce the dominant parasitoids to Greece for the biocontrol of A. spiniferus. Results showed that the infestation level was very low on Kauai, Hawaii, and Oahu Islands with mean infestation level ranged 1.4 - 3.1 on Hawaii and Oahu Islands mostly on pummelo and sweet orange, with no detection on Kauai Island. Only was E. perplexa the dominant parasitoid with parasitism rates ranged 0 -28 % on Hawaii Island and 11-65% on Oahu Island. Starter colony of the parasitoids has been colonized in Greece for evaluation and approval for release. This was the first field survey on Hawaii since the introduction and release of citrus whitefly natural enemies.

The liver is not only a digestive gland, but also an immune tissue that receives a double infusion from the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein. Receiving 80% of its blood supply from the intestine through the hepatic portal vein system, the liver is enriched with a large number of innate immune cells, which carry out the process of immune response by detecting pathogens entering the organism through the intestine. The intestine and liver communicate extensively through the bile ducts, portal vein and the somatic circulation, a bidirectional communication known as the intestinal-liver axis. The mammalian gut is considered an important microbial ecosystem. The interplay between the natural immune system and microbes coordinates the physiology of the whole organism, and in specific mammalian lineages, there is a dependency between the host and its associated microbes. To this end, we explored the regulatory mechanisms of natural immunity genes at the genome-wide level. Based on comparative genomics, 1473 bovine natural immunity genes were obtained by collecting the latest reports of human natural immunity genes and updated bovine genomic data for comparison, and a bovine natural immunity gene database was initially constructed to screen and match calf liver natural immunity differential genes mainly affected by the phylum Mimosoidea and the phylum Thick-walled Bacteria, and 16 differentially expressed natural immunity genes were obtained. In addition, the results of IPA analysis indicated that the upstream factor IL-2 initiated the PI3K/AKt/mTOR, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and JAK/STAT5 pathway, leading to the liver's involvement in gut microbial immune regulation.

Maternal hyperglycemia, induced by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), has detrimental effects on fetal vascular development, ultimately increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in offspring. The potential underlying mechanisms by which these complications occur are through functional impairment and epigenetic changes in fetal endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), however, remain less defined. We confirm that intrauterine hyperglycemia leads to impaired angiogenic function of fetal EPCs, as observed through functional assays of outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) derived from fetal EPCs of GDM pregnancies (GDM-EPCs). Notably, PCDH10 expression is increased in OECs derived from GDM-EPCs, which is associated with the inhibition of angiogenic function in fetal EPCs. Additionally, increased PCDH10 expression is correlated with hypomethylation of the PCDH10 promoter. Our findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to GDM can induce angiogenic dysfunction in fetal EPCs through altered gene expression and epigenetic changes, consequently increasing the susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases in offspring of GDM mothers.

Seventeen bacterial strains able to suppress plant pathogens have been isolated from healthy Vietnamese crop plants, and taxonomically assigned as members of the Bacillus cereus group. In order to prove their potential as biocontrol agents, we performed a comprehensive analysis which included whole genome sequencing of selected strains, and mining for genes and gene clusters involved in the synthesis of endo- and exotoxins, and secondary metabolites, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Kurstakin, thumolycin, and other AMPs were detected and characterized by different mass spectrometric methods, such as MALDI-TOF-MS, and LIFT-MALDI-TOF/TOF fragment analysis. Based on their whole genome sequences, the plant-associated isolates were assigned to the following species and subspecies: B. cereus subsp. cereus (6), B. cereus subsp. bombysepticus (5), Bacillus tropicus (2), and Bacillus pacificus. Three isolates represented novel genomospecies. Genes encoding entomopathogenic crystal and vegetative proteins were detected in B. cereus subsp. bombysepticus TK1. In vitro assays revealed that many plant-associated isolates enhanced plant growth and suppressed plant pathogens. Our findings indicated that plant-associated representatives of the B. cereus group are a rich source of putative antimicrobial compounds with potential in sustainable agriculture. However, the presence of virulence genes might restrict their application as biologicals in agriculture.

Life on Earth evolved to accommodate the biochemical and biophysical boundary conditions of the planet millions of years ago. The former includes nutrients, water, and ability to synthesize other needed chemicals. The latter include the 1 g gravity of the planet, radiation, and the geomagnetic field (GMF)of the planet. How complex life forms have accommodated the GMF is not known in detail considering that Homo sapiens evolved a neuro system and a cardiovascular system that develops electromagnetic fields as part of their functioning. In addition, many proteins and physiologic processes utilize Fe ions, an ion that exhibits magnetic properties. Thus, complex organisms such as current humans generate magnetic fields, contain significant quantities of the Fe ion, and also respond to exogenous-supplied static and electromagnetic fields. Whether humans can store information in self-generated magnetic fields remains to be determined. Given the current body of literature, it remains somewhat unclear how Homo sapiens use exogenous magnetic fields to regulate function, and what can happen if the boundary condition of the GMF of Earth is no longer exerting an effect. Proposed deep space flights to destinations such as Mars will provide some insights as space flight could not have been anticipated by evolution. The results of such space flight “experiments” will provide new insights in the role of magnetic fields on human functioning. The outcomes may also have implications for those on Earth as magnetic field influences may play a role in developmental conditions such as autism and senescence-associated conditions such as dementia when integration of the biological and biophysical aspects of humans of humans are required for effective functioning. This review will discuss the involvement of magnetic fields on various normal and disturbed processes in humans while on Earth and then further discuss potential outcomes when the GMF is no longer available to impact host systems. Thus, the GMF of the Earth has been present throughout evolution but details of its role in human functions still remain to be elucidated.

Rapid development and deployment of vaccines greatly reduced mortality and morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines approved by national regulatory authorities require intramuscular administration. SARS-CoV-2 initially infects the upper respiratory tract where the infection can be eliminated with little or no symptoms by an effective immune response. Failure to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract results in lower respiratory tract infections that can lead to severe disease and death. Presently used intramuscularly administered COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing severe disease and mortality but are not entirely able to prevent asymptomatic and mild infections as well as person to person transmission of the virus. Individual and population differences also influence susceptibility to infection and the propensity to develop severe disease. This article provides a perspective on the nature and the mode of delivery COVID-19 vaccines that can optimize protective immunity in the upper respiratory tract to reduce infections and virus transmission as well as severe disease.

Cathepsins (Caths) are lysosomal proteases that participate in various physiological and pathological processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that cathepsins play a multifaceted role in radiotherapy response. Firstly, cathepsins contribute to the remodelling of the tumor microenvironment by degrading extracellular matrix components, promoting angiogenesis, and facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. Their proteolytic activity influences the tumor's response to radiation by affecting oxygenation, nutrient availability, and immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, cathepsins have been implicated in DNA damage repair processes, including non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination. Cathepsin-mediated DNA repair mechanisms can promote radioresistance in cancer cells, limiting the efficacy of radiotherapy. Additionally, cathepsins have been associated with the activation of prosurvival signalling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt and NF-κB, which can confer resistance to radiation-induced cell death. Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of various malignancies. However, the effectiveness of radiotherapy can be limited by intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanisms in cancer cells. In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the role of cathepsins, a family of proteases, in modulating the response of tumor cells to radiotherapy. In this study, we shed light on the regulation and expression of cathepsin B in colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2) before and after exposure to radiation were investigated. Radiation-induced upregulation of cathepsin B in dose-independent manner. Proteolytic inhibition of cathepsin B by cathepsin B specific inhibitor CA074 has increased the cytotoxic effect of ionizing irradiation in caco-2 cells. Similar results were also obtained after cathepsin B knockout by CRISPR CAS9. These results showed that cathepsin B could contribute to ionizing radiation resistance and abolishing of cathepsin B either by inhibition its proteolytic activity or expression has increased in caco-2 cells susceptibility to ionizing irradiation.

Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the shelf life and postharvest quality of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nagano) harvested at 90% and 50% coloring stages in May and July respectively, stored at 11℃, 95% relative humidity were assessed. Fruits were treated with FAP + 30 μm polyethylene liner (FOLO), FAP (FOLX), 30 μm polyethylene liner (FXLO), and control (FXLX). The quality attributes, viz. weight loss, firmness, color, SSC, soluble sugars, TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS were evaluated. FOLO maintained sensory quality (weight loss, firmness, and color), physicochemical (soluble solids content and soluble sugars), and health-promoting properties compared to other treatments during storage. The investigated parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments except soluble sugars. The 50% coloring fruits had a huge variation between treatments than 90% coloring. The results revealed more TPC and antioxidant capacity in 50% than in 90% coloring fruits. The study highlights the need to consider the ideal fruit coloring stage at harvest under the effect of FAP and MAP treatments in preserving bell pepper's postharvest quality and shelf life.

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) causes significant economic losses in tomato crops worldwide. Since its first detection infecting tomato in 1999, aggressive PepMV variants have emerged. This study aimed to characterize two aggressive PepMV isolates, PepMV-H30 and PepMV-KLP2. Both isolates were identified in South-Eastern Spain infecting tomato plants, which showed severe symptoms, including bright yellow mosaics. Full-length infectious clones were generated, and phylogenetic relationships were inferred using their nucleotide sequences and another 35 full-length sequences from isolates representing the five PepMV known strains. Our analysis revealed that PepMV-H30 and PepMV-KLP2 belong to the EU and CH2 strains, respectively. Amino acid sequence comparisons between these and mild isolates identified 8 and 15 amino acid substitutions for PepMV-H30 and PepMV-KLP2, respectively, potentially involved in severe symptom induction. None of the substitutions identified in PepMV-H30 had previously been described as symptom determinant. The E236K substitution, originally present in the PepMV-H30 CP, was introduced into a mild PepMV-EU isolate, resulting in a virus that causes symptoms similar to those induced by the parental PepMV-H30. In silico analyses revealed that this residue is located at the C-terminus of the CP and is solvent-accessible, suggesting its potential involvement in CP-host proteins interactions. We also examined the subcellular localization of PepGFPm2E236K in comparison to that of PepGFPm2, focusing on chloroplast affection, but no differences were observed in the GFP subcellular distribution between the two viruses. Due to the easily visible symptoms that PepMV-H30 and PepMV-KLP2 induce, these isolates represent valuable tools in programs destined to breeding resistance to PepMV in tomato.

Supplements in fish nutrition can help alleviate pressure on the wild stock; however, there is limited information on the benefits of rooibos tea extract in aquafeed. This study aimed to determine the effect of rooibos tea extract inclusion in the commercial diet on the growth performance of larval fish. Fish were reared on three diets: a commercial diet with 30% fermented or green rooibos extract and a commercial tilapia diet (control). Fish (initial weight of 0.54 ± 0.008 g and length of 2.22 ± 0.01 cm) were randomly distributed into recirculating aquaculture systems in triplicates at 100 fish per tank. Fish was hand-fed thrice daily for eight weeks at 2% body weight. After that, samples were withdrawn to measure growth parameters. Fish-fed fermented, and green tea extracts exhibited a significantly (p ˂ 0.05) higher weight gain than the controls. The feed conversion ratio was higher in the control group, fermented (1.50 ± 0.25 cm) and green tea (1.41 ± 0.07 cm). Similarly, the control group exhibited the highest condition factor (K=13.14 ± 4.87). The two treatment groups were comparable (p >0.05) in growth performance. Overall, the evidence indicates that adding rooibos tea extracts to the basal diet can improve fish growth.

Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is an attractive ornamental plant with a range of leaf colors and shapes. Breeding new varieties of ornamental kale has proven challenging due to its lengthy breeding cycle and the limited availability of genetic markers. Microspore culture is an effective approach to generate new materials and genetic maps are a prerequisite for quantitative trait loci analysis, MAS, fine gene mapping, and genome sequence assembly. In this study, a F1DH ornamental kale population comprising 300 DH lines was constructed using microspore culture. A high-density genetic map was developed by conducting whole-genome sequencing on 150 individuals from the F1DH population. The genetic map contained 1,696 bin-markers with 982,642 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a total distance of 775.81 cM on all nine chromosomes with an average distance between markers of 0.46 cM. The ornamental kale genetic map contained substantially more SNP markers compared with published genetic maps for other B. oleracea crops. The F1DH progenies provide an excellent resource for germplasm innovation and breeding new varieties of ornamental kale. The high-density genetic map provides crucial insights for gene mapping and unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind important agronomic traits in ornamental kale.

Bacillus species produce different classes of antimicrobial and antioxidant substances: peptides or proteins with different structural composition and molecular mass and a broad range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which may serve as biomarkers for microorganism identification. The aim of this study is the identification of biologically active compounds synthesized by five Bacillus species using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The current study profoundly enhances the knowledge of antibacterial and antioxidant metabolites ensuring the unambiguous identification of VOCs produced by some Bacillus species, which were isolated from vegetable samples of potato, carrot, and tomato. Phylogenetic and biochemical studies were used to identify the bacterial isolates after culturing. Phylogenetic analysis proved that five bacterial isolates BSS12, BSS13, BSS16, BSS21, and BSS25 showed 99% nucleotide sequence similarities with Bacillus safensis AS-08, Bacillus cereus WAB2133, and Bacillus acidiproducens NiuFun, Bacillus toyonesis FORT 102 and Bacillus thuringiensis F3, respectively. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the antibiotic resistance potency and the antimicrobial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains, including Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Enterococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus group B, Streptococcus mutans, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella enteritidis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris. GC–MS analysis of bacterial strains found that VOCs from Bacillus species come in a variety of chemical forms, such as ketones, alcohols, terpenoids, alkenes, etc. Overall, 69 volatile organic compounds were identified from five Bacillus species, and all five were found to share different chemical classes of volatile organic components, which have a variety of pharmacological applications. However, 8 antibacterial compounds with different concentrations were commonly found in all five species: acetoin, acetic acid, butanoic acid, 2-methyl-, oxime-, methoxy-phenyl, phenol, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, nonanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid, methyl. The biology and physiology of Bacillus can be better understood using these results, which can also be used to create novel biotechnological procedures and applications. Moreover, because of its exceptional ability to synthesize and produce a variety of different antibacterial compounds, Bacillus species can serve as natural and universal carriers for antibiotic compounds in the form of probiotic cultures and strains to fight different pathogens, including mycobacteria.

Bangladeshi medicinal plants (BMP) have been used as traditional medicinal plants to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, but the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the bark of BMP are not yet known. The objective of this study was to determine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using methanolic extracts of bark obtained from 15 medicinal spices of Bangladesh plants. The bark methanol extracts of BMP evaluated the total antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Among the 15 bark extracts of BMP, Albizia odoratissima (A. odoratissima), Engelhardia spicata (E. spicata), and Shorea robusta (S. robusta) showed the highest total phenolic contents and total antioxidant capacity by reducing free radicals scavenging activity. In particular, the three bark extracts significantly reduced the mRNA expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-inducible enzymes in macrophages. Also, the mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase 2 was significantly suppressed by three bark extracts in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results suggest that among the 15 bark extracts obtained from medicinal plant in Bangladesh, three bark extracts of A. odoratissima, E. spicata, and S. robusta exert total antioxidant capacity by reducing free radicals scavenging activity and inhibitory effects on LPS-stimulated inflammation in macrophages.

In the present study, the physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of three medicinal plants - thyme, cotton thistle and hawthorn fruit from the Western Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria were investigated. In the first stage, the physicochemical characteristics (moisture, ash, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamin C) of the three herbs were determined. In the second stage, four types of extracts (aqueous, oil, methanolic and ethanolic) from them were prepared and the total phenolic content, presence of phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids), antioxidant activity and their antimicrobial properties were determined. Thyme was characterized by the highest ash, proteins and vitamin C contents. The hawthorn fruit was characterized by the highest moisture and carbohydrate contents. The 70% ethanolic extracts of the three herbs exhibited the highest levels of phenolics and consequently a pronounced antioxidant activity, compared to the other three types of extracts. The flavonoid quercetin-3-ß-glucoside was in highest concentration in the thyme and hawthorn fruit, while myricetin dominated in the cotton thistle. The phenolic acid content analysis showed a prevalence of rosmaric acid in thyme, whereas chlorogenic acid was detected in highest concentration in hawthorn fruit and cotton thistle. High antimicrobial potential of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts was observed.

Mucormycosis is known to be a rare opportunistic infection caused by Syncephalastrum species, which are Mucorales fungi of the Zygomycetes class. These moulds are rarely involved in clinical diseases and are generally seen as contaminants in the clinical laboratory. However, in recent years, case reports of human infections due to Syncephalastrum have increased, especially in immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we describe two new Syncephalastrum species, which were isolated from human nails and sputum samples from two different patients. We used several methods of genomic and phenotypic characterisation. The phenotypic analysis, relied on morphological features, analysed both by optical and scanning electron microscopy. We used Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and BiologTM technology to characterise the proteomic, chemical mapping, and carbon source assimilation profiles, respectively. The genomic analysis relied on multilocus sequence analysis of the rRNA internal transcribed spacers and D1/D2 large-subunit domains, and fragments of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and the β-tubulin genes. The two novel species in the genus Syncephalastrum, namely S. massiliense PMMF0073 and S. timoneanum PMMF0107, have a similar morphology to S. racemosum, but each display distinct phenotypic and genotypic features. The polyphasic approach, combining the results of complementary phenotypic and genomic assays, was instrumental in describing and characterising these two new Syncephalastrum species.

The Sakha people have a long history of use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine and healing practices. This article explores the use and naming practices found with 10 plants that grow in far northeastern Russia, in the Arctic and Subarctic zones of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). A field survey of 2500 participants was used to identify the most widely used medicinal plants, their names, and uses. Findings were double-checked with published resources. A small set of criteria are used in naming practices. These practices are based on the plant’s appearance, its habit, or in some way are related to their use, indexing the disease, or the diseased organ, or the result of healing. We find robust knowledge and practice of traditional medicine across the Sakha population, and deep knowledge of plants among Sakha herbalists, healers and shamans.

Plant biotechnology is dependent today on accessing broader plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) diversity for ensuring food security for our future. Heterogenous agricultural lands are considered today as hotspot for biodiversity, and they also exist in the hilly mountain areas of Romanian’s Carpathians. The scope of this review is to describe traditional home-hardens related to the land use of households and cultivated species from Moșna commune, Sibiu County, Romania. The survey was realized with the support of authorities and local stakeholders from 2010 up to 2019. The results of this survey revealed that maintenance of crop species structure and land use of traditional households is longer than 100 years. Consequently at least 15 traditional Saxon home-gardens of 120 taken into the study may be defined. Today these home-garden covers a media of 26% of the total area of a household and should be part of a surface ranging between 5,000 and 1,500 m2. The first Local Council Decision in Romania in 2019 supporting the recognition of landraces and home-gardens as heritage values was officially adopted supporting the need to more access bottom-up approaches for supporting biodiversity conservation.

Pasture-based production systems are predominant in major beef-producing countries, however, these systems lack validated protocols to assess animal welfare under commercial conditions. The objective of this study was to validate an animal welfare protocol for fattening Zebu cattle farms in tropical pasture systems. The initial protocol was developed with the participation of producers, professionals, the general public, and the Colombian health authority, through workshops with a participatory approach and collaborative knowledge management. The validation was carried out in 24 pasture-based commercial Zebu cattle farms in the middle Magdalena region of Colombia. Visits were made with an average duration of 2.5 hours, which included the evaluation of 788 fattening cattle. The protocol evaluated animal-based, resource-based, and livestock management indicators through a questionnaire-guided interview to evaluate cattle handling and health, animal-based measurements, and documentation management. A protocol validation process was carried out by selecting indicators that remained unchanged, adjusting those that were feasible to implement, and eliminating inadequate or unnecessary indicators. The application of the protocol demonstrated that there are valid and feasible measures to include in the evaluation protocols of pasture-based fattening systems. Likewise, the active participation of producers is crucial to achieving a greater commitment to the implementation of this protocol.

It has been more than three decades since the discovery of multifunctional factors, Non-POU Domain-Containing Octamer-Binding Protein, NonO and Splicing Factor, Proline-and Glutamine-Rich, SFPQ. Some of their functions, including their participations in transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation as well as their contribution to paraspeckle subnuclear body organization have been well-documented. In this review, we focus on the roles of NonO and SFPQ in cell cycle with particular attention to their participation in nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) of DNA damage responses induced by irradiation. In these contexts, absence or malfunction of either or both lead to genome instability and ultimately to apoptosis, cellular senescence, and tumor development. This review also will shed light on NonO and SFPQ function in DNA/RNA/protein binding and their association with Ku heterodimer of the NHEJ pathway required for repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs).

Red fruits such as grapes and blueberries are known for their high content of bioactive compounds and antioxidants. In Mediterranean winemaking, traditional sun drying can be replaced by controlled airflow chamber drying which provides better quality, higher phenolic content, and increased antioxidants. This study aimed to increase the sugar content and phenolic compounds of the must by drying the fruits to 50% of their original moisture content. Two musts were prepared by combining fresh grapes and dried blueberries (M1), and the other using dried grapes and fresh blueberries (M2), followed by fermentation at 25 ºC with M05 Mead and X5 yeast strains. Must M2 showed the highest level of phenolic compounds, A520, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. During fermentation, the anthocyanin content increased mainly in the dried blueberry macerates, which raised between 4 to 5.5-fold. More bioactive compounds were extracted from wines produced by yeast inoculation despite shorter maceration times. Sensory analysis demonstrated consumer acceptance of the wines in terms of color, flavor and aroma. In conclusion, the use of red grapes in the production of blueberry red wine proved to be effective, providing sugars and higher must yields, while the dried fruits improved the fermentable sugar content and the levels of bioactive compounds, increasing the antioxidant capacity of the resulting red fruit wines.

The complexity of RNA cannot be fully expressed with the canonical A, C, G, and U alphabet. To date, over 140 distinct chemical modifications to RNA have been discovered. RNA modifications can profoundly impact the cellular outcomes of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), transfer and ribosomal RNAs, and noncoding RNAs. Additionally, aberrant RNA modifications are associated with human disease. RNA modifications are a rising topic within the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. This review aims to provide budding scientists with an appreciation for the significance of RNA modifications, alongside the skills required to identify and fluently discuss fundamental RNA-protein interactions. The Pumilio RNA-binding protein and YT521-B homology (YTH) family of modified RNA-binding proteins serve as examples to highlight the fundamental biochemical interactions that underlie the specific recognition of both unmodified and modified ribonucleotides, respectively.

Nuts are a staple food consumed throughout the world, and their purity is essential to maintaining human health. However, fungal mycotoxins pose one of the real challenges in keeping nuts clean for human consumption. The high cost of equipment, reagents used, standard samples, as well as increased requirements for personnel qualifications limit the use of chromatographic methods in testing laboratories, both manufacturing enterprises and organizations monitoring food safety. The present study aimed to test a new method for extracting aflatoxin B1 using sodium chloride and citric acid instead of methanol present in imported nuts obtained from local markets in Astana (Kazakhstan). The proposed method for extracting aflatoxin B1 from nuts is chemically safe, since the substances used belong to hazard class 3 of the international classification and do not require separate premises in food safety laboratories of the Astana markets and special training of specialists. The technical objective of the method is to replace the reagent (methanol) during the sample preparation process when conducting cocuret enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Aflatoxin B1 levels varied depending on the type of nut. Aflatoxin contamination was observed in 35.8% of samples analyzed. These levels of mycotoxin contamination are alarming and raise serious questions about the purity of imported nuts to ensure food safety.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and intricate forms of brain cancer, demanding novel therapeutic interventions. The role of transcription factors in epigenetic regulation has emerged as a promising avenue for targeting GBM. This comprehensive review seeks to explore the complex interplay between specific transcription factors such as SNAI2, FOXA1, YAP1, TWIST1, ZEB1, and NF-kB, and their role in GBM progression and therapy. The focus extends to innovative therapeutic strategies, including epigenetic modifiers, targeted therapies, and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. A unique aspect of this review highlights the connection between transcription factors, neoantigen presentation, and personalized immunotherapy in GBM. By delving into current research, clinical trials, and immunological data, this review emphasizes the significant potential of targeting transcription factors for personalized immunotherapy in GBM. The challenges, future perspectives, and ethical considerations are also critically discussed, offering a complete and thought-provoking insight into a vital and rapidly evolving field.

In the crustacean immune system, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) is one of the major structures for recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). LRR domain-containing proteins belong to the LRR family, which is a large group of proteins with more than 6000 genes in the database. They are involved in very diverse physiological functions mainly by interacting with other proteins. In a previous study, the LvLRRm, a transmembrane protein containing only LRR domain, was identified in the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Its versatile role in performing multiple immunomodulation activities has been reported. However, there is still a lack of research on its efficient function at the protein level. To investigate its interactions with other proteins, we applied a convenient method called ‘Hybrid LRR technique’ to produce a recombinant LvLRRm. The LvLRRm and hagfish’s variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) fragments were fused to the conserved LxxLxLxxN motif while retaining the β-strand. In addition, we established interactions between hybrid-proteins and flagellin of Salmonella by performing surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. The designed hybrid proteins showed potential for universal applications without losing protein functions.

Background: Number of joint infections caused by Vancomycin-resistant pathogens is emerging. Currently no PMMA cement is commercially available to cover VRE. Daptomycin shows promising results in infection treatment, offers a good safety profile and reduced risk for resistance development. Purpose of this in vitro study is to investigate the mechanical stability, handling properties, elution behavior and antimicrobial effectiveness of PMMA cement loaded with three different Daptomycin concentrations in comparison to commercially available ALBC; Methods: Mechanical properties and handling characteristics (ISO 5833, DIN 53435), HPLC elution, antimicrobial effectiveness with proliferation assay (DIN 17025) and inhibition zone testing were investigated; Results: All tested Daptomycin concentrations fulfilled ISO and DIN mechanical strength. Dosage of 0.5. g added Daptomycin did not show any antimicrobial effectiveness in contrast to 1.0 g and1.5 g. Cement with 1.5 g Daptomycin was best in elution and effectiveness, showed good mechanical ISO strength, ISO doughing was a little longer sticky and setting was faster as Vancomycin containing reference cement; Conclusion: PMMA cement containing 0.5 g Gentamicin and 1.5 g Daptomycin could be a good alternative to the already established COPAL® G+V for PJI treatment of VRE.

Osteoclasts (OCs) are the multinucleated, bone-resorbing giant cells originally differentiated from a monocyte/macrophage lineage. OC differentiation and maturation, also called osteoclastogenesis, are strictly regulated by a variety of signaling pathways primarily induced by the interactions of two prerequisite cytokines, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) to their respective surface receptors, c-fms and RANK, in OC precursors (pre-OCs). Rab11 has emerged as the spatiotemporal regulators of intracellular vesicular transport in the endosomal recycling system; however, how it regulates osteoclastogenesis is incompletely understood. OC-triggered bone resorption is best characterized to be immensely dependent upon lysosomal function, the intracellular acidic organelles containing more than 50 acid hydrolases secreted into bone matrix microenvironment (BME). On the contrary, it is little known about the lysosomal function on modulating the turnover of c-fms and RANK surface receptors via Rab GTPase-mediated vesicular transport, thereby dictating osteoclastogenesis. In this review, I briefly describe the mechanism underlying lysosome-induced osteoclastogenesis via the Rab11-mediated modulation of the surface receptors in OCs.

One challenge in studying the natural behaviour of wild animals is the requirement of detailed observations spanning extended periods of time, which is particularly difficult in the case of sharks. As a result, remote sensing technologies are increasingly employed in which the data received is considerably simplified. In this study, 475 blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) were identified using direct underwater observation. Subsequent sightings of these sharks were recorded at various locations along the north shore of Mo'orea Island over a period of 6.5 years. The key factors influencing their movements were found to be the reproductive season and the lunar phase. Additionally, a tendency to avoid turbulent regions was observed, particularly by mature females. Notably, significant variations existed among individuals; while some sharks left their ranges for only two weeks twice a year for mating and parturition, others were frequently absent, sometimes for months at a time. It was also observed that juveniles displayed high mobility prior to settling into a home range around the ages of three to four. Understanding such movements will be useful in the future in the planning of MPAs and other conservation strategies.

Wild-type p53 cancer therapy-induced senescent cells frequently engulf and degrade neighboring ones inside a massive vacuole in their cytoplasm. After clearance of the internalized cell, the vacuole persists, seemingly empty, for several hours. Despite large vacuoles being associated with cell death, this process is known to confer a survival advantage to cancer engulfing cells, leading to therapy resistance and tumor relapse. Previous attempts to resolve the vacuolar structure and visualize their content using dyes were unsatisfying for lack of known targets and ineffective dye penetration and/or retain. Here, we overcame this problem by applying optical diffraction tomography and Raman spectroscopy to MCF7 doxorubicin-induced engulfing cells. We demonstrated a real ability of cell tomography and Raman to phenotype complex microstructures, such as cell-in-cells and vacuoles, and detect chemical species in extremely low concentrations within live cells in a completely label-free fashion. We show that vacuoles had a density indistinguishable to the medium, but were not empty, instead contained diluted cell-derived macromolecules, and we could discern vacuoles from medium and cells using their Raman fingerprint. Our approach is useful for the non-invasive investigation of senescent engulfing (and other peculiar) cells in unperturbed conditions, crucial for a better understanding of complex biological processes.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles, and other lipid vesicles derived from cells, play a pivotal role in intercellular communication by transferring information between cells. EVs secreted by progenitor and stem cells have been associated with the therapeutic effects observed in cell-based therapies, and they also contribute to tissue regeneration following injury, such as in orthopedic surgery cases. This review briefly explores the involvement of EVs in tissue repair and nerve regeneration, their potential as drug carriers, and their significance in stem cell research and cell-based therapies. It underscores the importance for bioengineers to comprehend and manipulate EV activity to optimize the efficacy of tissue engineering and regenerative therapies.

Demethyleneberberine is an active component extracted from the Chinese herbal drug Cortex Phellodendri. It is also a metabolite of the berberine in animals and humans. However, the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of demethyleneberberine have not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of demethyleneberberine by developing a method of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The detection was performed by using positive ion electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The MS/MS ion transitions were monitored at m/z 324.4→308.3 for demethyleneberberine and 465.5→350.3 for IS. After oral administration of demethyleneberberine in rats and mice, the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and excretion of desmethylberberine in rats and mice were comparatively studied for the first time. The plasma concentration of desmethylberberine reached its peak within 5 min after oral administration in both rats and mice. The bioavailability of rats and mice was comparable, ranging from 4.47% to 5.94%, higher than that of berberine. The total excretion of desmethylberberine in urine, feces and bile is 7.28~9.77%. These findings provide valuable insights into the pharmacological and clinical research on desmethylberberine.

In the dairy cattle sector, the evaluation of the effects induced by heat stress is still one of the most impactful and investigated aspects as it is strongly connected to both sustainability of the production and animal welfare. On the other hand, more recently, the possibility of collecting large dataset made available by the increasing technology diffusion is paving the way for the application of advanced numerical techniques based on machine learning or big data approaches. In this scenario driven by rapid change there could be the risk of dispersing the relevant information represented by the physiological animal component, which should maintain the central role in the development of numerical models and tools. In the light of this, the present literature review aims to consolidate and synthesize existing research on the physiological consequences of heat stress in dairy cattle. The present review provides, in a single document, an overview as complete as possible of the heat stress-induced responses in dairy cattle with the intent of filling the existing research gap for extracting the veterinary knowledge present in the literature and make it available to those who are developing numerical models and tools.

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLRD) is the most globally prevalent and destructive disease complex responsible for significant reductions in grape yield and quality as well as wine production. GLRD is associated with several positive-strand RNA viruses of the family Closteroviridae, designated grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaVs). However, the specific etiological role of any of these GLRaVs in GLRD has not been demonstrated. Even though GLRaV-3 is considered the chief GLRD agent, little is known about the molecular, cellular and pathological properties of this virus. Such knowledge gap is due to multiple factors, including unavailability of biologically active virus cDNA clones and the lack of reliable experimental systems for launching grapevine infection using such clones. In this work, we have tested four methods for inoculating tissue cultured grapevine plantlets with cDNA clones of GLRaV-3: i) vacuum agro-infiltration; ii) agro-pricking; iii) agro-drenching and iv) agro-injection. We have shown that vacuum agro-infiltration was the most effective among these methods. Further, we examined the impacts of different experimental conditions on the survival and infectivity rate of grapevines after infiltration. To verify the infectivity rate for different treatments, we used RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. We have found that humidity plays a critical role in the survival of plantlets after agro-infiltration and that the use of RNA silencing suppressor, and dormancy treatment both had strong effects on the infection rates. To our best knowledge, the experimental protocol reported here is the most effective system for launching infection of grapevine using cDNA clones of grapevine viruses featuring up to 70% infection rate. This system has strong potential to facilitate grapevine virology research including fulfillment of Koch’s postulates for GLRD and other major virus diseases as well as the molecular, cellular, and pathological properties of GLRaVs and potentially other important grapevine viruses.

Aurora Kinase A being overexpressed in majority of cancers, appear to be an attractive therapeutic target. However, a Phase III clinical trial of Alisertib, a selective AURKA inhibitor, resulted in no better response compared to the comparator arm of chemotherapeutic regimen raising question regarding ability of the same to target the undetectable stem cell functions. In silico analysis indicated regulation of AURKA by the stemness factors Oct4 and Sox2. TCGA data indicated positive correlation of each of the factors with AURKA which were eventually validated in cell lines, patient tissues and blood by flow cytometry along with Oct4 binding on AURKA promoter being detected by ChIP assay. However, indirect immunofluorescence and cell cycle analyses indicated proliferation-independent AURKA functions during asymmetric cell division, a characteristic feature of stem cells. Thorough screening of the AURKA positive cells in patient samples denoted epithelial to mesenchymal transition and significant upregulation of Vimentin, a mesenchymal marker and ABCG2, a drug resistance marker under Oct4 or Sox2 influence. Overall, our study demonstrated combinatorial selection Oct4, Sox2, AURKA, Vimentin and ABCG2 for diagnostics and intervention of circulating breast cancer stem cells as a blood-based, cost-effective and simple approach which will be beneficial in reducing relapse.

In the context of post-harvest pest management in agricultural products, the adoption of modified atmospheres presents an eco-friendly alternative to conventional pesticides. This study focuses on nitrogen gas as a potential agent for insect control in stored commodities, utilizing computational simulations to investigate its penetration and distribution within two common storage configurations: chamber-contained pallets and silos. By employing the convection-diffusion equation, the simulations reveal insights into nitrogen distribution dynamics and duration required for oxygen reduction. The results highlight the influence of boundary conditions, commodity porosity, and convection effects on nitrogen dispersion. In chamber scenarios, boundary condition type significantly affects oxygen reduction time, while in silos, convection and diffusion interact to establish a consistent diffusion layer thickness. This research enhances the understanding of modified atmosphere techniques and their potential for sustainable pest management. It provides practitioners with valuable quantitative insights, paving the way for optimized modified atmosphere strategies in real-world agricultural contexts.

The embryonic epicardium originates from the proepicardium, an extracardiac primordium constituted by a cluster of mesothelial cells. In early embryos, the embryonic epicardium is characterized by a squamous cell epithelium resting on the myocardium surface. Subsequently, it invades the subepicardial space and thereafter the embryonic myocardium by means of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Within the myocardium, epicardial-derived cells present multilineage potential, later differentiating into smooth muscle cells and contributing both to coronary vasculature and cardiac fibroblasts in the mature heart. Over the last decades, we have progressively increased our understanding of those cellular and molecular mechanisms driving proepicardial/embryonic epicardium formation. This study provides a state-of-the-art review of the transcriptional and emerging post-transcriptional mechanisms involved in the formation and differentiation of the embryonic epicardium.

The genus Fusarium includes several agronomically important and toxin-producing species, that are worldwide distributed and can cause a wide range of diseases. Crown and stalk rots and grain infections are among the most severe symptoms that Fusarium spp. can cause on maize. The disease development usually occurs during germination, but it may also affect the later phases of plant growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity and the patho-genicity of 41 isolates recovered from symptomatic seedlings collected in Northern Italy, and from seeds with five different geographical origins during 2019 and 2020. The pathogenicity was tested and confirmed on 23 isolates causing rotting on maize seedlings. A multi-locus phylogeny analysis, based on four genomic loci (tef1-α, rpb2, calm and tub2), was performed for 23 repre-sentative isolates. Representative isolates were identified as species belonging to three species complexes (SC). Fusarium verticillioides and F. annulatum in the F. fujikuroi SC. Fusarium commune was identified in the F. nisikadoi SC, and three different lineages were found in the Fusarium ox-ysporum SC. This study reports F. annulatum, and two lineages of the Fusarium oxysporum SC as maize pathogens for the first time in Italy.

Nowadays, the demand of agricultural production increase, Moreover, the rapid increase of the population in Egypt led to an increase in the demand for food, prompting the government to reclaim more desert lands. Such a study contributes to providing information that contributes to the promising optimization of land resources. This study carried out in an area south Egypt covering 386,171.04 hectares (ha). Remote sensed data were manipulated for defining the land cover/use features. Setting up DEM configures the network of natural drainage flows via the descending slopes. It was a guide for allocating micro dams as water harvesting sites as well as minimizing the runoff hazards and managing the priority of land use suitability versus flood hazards. Land cover/use units were defined as terrestrial irrigated areas of sequentially herbacous crops and permanent trees covering 1387.83 ha in levees; 1608.82 ha in point bar; 718.89 ha in bow bar and 23938.29 ha in alluvial plain. Terrestrial natural vegetation is dominated by xerophytes herbaceous in wadis (123533.56 ha). Terrestrial non-vegetated areas includes bare areas of rock land (98102.59 ha) and 67201.57 in bajada. Artificial non linear surfaces include buildings (5403.59 ha) and linear features include roads and railways (875.78 ha). Aquatic areas include artificial irrigation and drainage canals (1062.15 ha) and natural water body of River Nile course (2785.92 ha). Current land suitability for specific Land Utilization Types (LUTs) was assessed by matching soil attributes with the growth requirement of each LUT. Current land suitability can be improved by decreasing of salinity and framing practices. Accordingly, the land units can be potentially more profitable for increasing the ability of extra crops to be more productive. Old cultivated areas are the most profitable land cover/use units highly suitable (S1) for all LUTs comparing with other land cover categories.

Early-life exposure to high-fat diet (HF) can program metabolic and cognitive alterations in adult offspring. Although the hippocampus plays a crucial role in memory and metabolic homeostasis, few studies reported the impact of maternal HF on this structure. We assessed the effects of maternal HF during lactation on physiological, metabolic and cognitive parameters in young adult offspring mice. To identify early-programming mechanisms in hippocampus, we developed a multi-omics strategy in male and female offspring. Maternal HF induced a transient increased body weight at weaning, a mild glucose intolerance only in 3-month-old male mice with no change in plasma metabolic parameters in adult male and female offspring. Behavioral alterations revealed by Barnes maze test were observed both in 6-month-old male and female mice. Multi-omics strategy unveiled sex-specific transcriptomic and proteomic modifications in the hippocampus of adult offspring. These studies that were confirmed by regulon analysis, showing that, although genes whose expression was modified by maternal HF were different between sexes, the main pathways affected were similar with mitochondria and synapses as main hippocampal targets of maternal HF. The effects of maternal HF reported here may help to better characterize sex-dependent molecular pathways involved in cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

The aim of this work is the study of genome organization and metabolic potential of Streptomyces carpaticus strain SCPM-O-B-9993, promising plant-protecting and plant-stimulating strain isolated from brown semi-desert soils with a very high degree of salinity. The genome of the strain contains of a linear chromosome of 5,968,715 bp and has no plasmids. Gene clusters of production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties (ohmyungsamycin, pellasoren, naringenin, ansamycin) were identified in the genome. The strain SCPM-O-B-9993 has antiviral activity against cucumber mosaic virus on tomatoes under laboratory conditions.

Lactic acid bacteria are traditionally applied in a variety of fermented food products and have the capability to produce a wide range of bioactive ingredients during fermentation including vitamins, bacteriocins, bioactive peptides and bioactive compounds. The bioactivity and health benefits associated with these ingredients have gained interest in applications in the functional dairy market and have relevance both as components produced in situ and as functional additives. This review provides a brief description of the regulations regarding the functional food market in the European Union as well as an overview of some of the functional dairy products currently available in the Irish and European markets. A better understanding of the production of these ingredients excreted by lactic acid bacteria can further drive the development and innovation of the continuously growing functional food market.

The broad bean plant contains L-DOPA, a compound that is essential for patients with Parkin-son’s disease. However, little has been reported on other broad bean compounds that have bene-ficial effects on health. The objective was to evaluate plants of four Mexican broad bean varieties to determine the content and yield of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and L-DOPA, as well as to analyze the flavonoid profile and antioxidant (AA) and anti-inflammatory (AANTI) activity in vitro. Broad bean seeds were sown in the field and plants were harvested 20 days after emergence. The analyses were performed with visible UV spectrophotometry and HPLC. The variety José María produced the highest yield of TPC (9.30 g m-2), TF (8.08 g m-2) and L-DOPA (5.64 g m-2) per unit of area. The highest yields per plant were obtained with the Rojita variety: TPC (0.25 g plant-1), TF (0.21 g plant-1) and L-DOPA (0.17 g plant-1). This variety also had the highest antioxidant (CI50= 87.68 µg mL-¹) and anti-inflammatory (CI50= 74.40 mg mL-1) activi-ty, which was attributed to the L-DOPA compounds and to rutin and isoorientins, respectively. The flavonoid profile revealed the presence of rutin and isoorientins, which had not been previ-ously detected in the broad bean plant.

Several questions regarding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly elucidated. One of these questions is the possible evolutionary impact of SARS-CoV-2 after the infection in domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of cats as generators of relevant SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the pandemic. A total of 105 full-length genome viral sequences obtained from naturally infected cats during the pandemic were evaluated by distinct evolutionary algorithms. Analyses were enhanced, including a set of highly related SARS-CoV-2 sequences recovered from human populations. Our results showed the apparent high susceptibility of cats to the infection SARS-CoV-2 compared with other animal species. Evolutionary analyses indicated that the phylogenomic characteristics displayed by cat populations were influenced by the dominance of specific SARS-CoV-2 genetic groups affecting human populations. However, disparate dN/dS rates at some genes between populations recovered from cats and humans suggested that infection in these two species may suppose a different evolutionary constraint for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the branch selection analysis showed evidence of the potential role of natural selection in the emergence of 5 distinct cat lineages during the pandemic. Although these lineages were apparently irrelevant to public health during the pandemic, our results suggested that additional studies are needed to understand the role of other animal species in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic.

Mucosal vaccination appears to be suitable to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we tested an intranasal mucosal vaccine candidate to COVID-19 constituted of a cationic liposome containing a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and CpG-ODNs, a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, as adjuvant. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated the absence of toxicity following the intranasal administration of this vaccine formulation. First, we found that subcutaneous or intranasal vaccination protected hACE-2 transgenic mice from infection with the wild-type (Wuhan) SARS-CoV-2 strain, as shown by weight lost and mortality indicators. However, when compared to the subcutaneous administration, the intranasal route was more effective in the pulmonary clearance of the virus and induced higher neutralizing antibodies and anti-S IgA titers. In addition, the intranasal vaccination afforded protection against gamma, delta and omicron virus variants of concern. Furthermore, the intranasal vaccine formulation was superior to intramuscular vaccination with a recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (Oxford/AstraZeneca) in terms of virus lung clearance and production of neutralizing antibodies in serum and bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL). Finally, the intranasal liposomal formulation boosted heterologous immunity induced by previous intramuscular vaccination with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine that was more robust than homologous immunity.

Iris laevigata Fisch. is a perennial aquatic plant with strong cold resistance and showy flowers. However, the flowering period of a single flower is only two days, greatly limiting its potential use in landscaping and the cutting-flower industry. In addition, I. laevigata is often challenged with various abiotic stresses including high salinity and drought in its native habitat. Thus, breeding novel cultivars with prolonged flowering time and higher resistance to abiotic stress is of high importance. In this study, we first performed genome-wide identification of WRKYs, key transcription factors in modulating flowering time and abiotic stress responses. We overexpressed IlWRKY22 in Arabidopsis thaliana and found the flowering time was delayed in the transgenic plants. Molecular characterization further revealed that IlWRKY22 promotes the expression of CO and GA20OX genes in the photoperiod and gibberellin pathways, respectively, and inhibits the expression of SPL3 in the aging pathway. We also created transgenic Nicotiana tabacum overexpressing IlWRKY22, which showed significantly improved resistance to both salt and drought compared to control plants. Specifically, the photosynthetic rate, maximum potential quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and chlorophyll content were higher in the transgenic plants, which was accompanied with higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower levels of reactive oxygen species. Thus, our study revealed a unique dual function of IlWRKY22, an excellent candidate gene for breeding novel I. laevigata cultivars of desirable traits.

miRNA regulatory axes in blood of MCI patients, which includes lncRNA-SNHG16, lncRNA-H19 and lncRNA-NEAT1. Microarray investigations have demonstrated modifications in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in blood of patients with MCI compared with control samples. This is the first study to explore lncRNA profiles in Mild Cognitive Impairment blood. Our study proposes RNAs targets involved in molecular pathways connected to the pathogenesis of MCI.

Optimal detection strategies for effective convalescent immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination remain unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize convalescent immunity targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using a multiparametric approach. At the beginning of the pandemic, we recruited 30 COVID-19 unvaccinated convalescent donors and 7 unexposed asymptomatic controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from leukapheresis cones. The humoral immune response was assessed by measuring serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit IgG semiquantitative ELISA and T cell immunity against S1 and S2 subunits were studied by IFN-γ Enzyme-Linked Immune absorbent Spot (ELISpot), flow cytometric (FC) activation-induced marker (AIM) assays and the assessment of cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell function (in the subset of HLA-A2 positive patients). No single immunoassay was sufficient in identifying anti-spike convalescent immunity among all patients. There was no consistent correlation between adaptive humoral and cellular anti-spike responses. Our data indicate that the magnitude of anti-spike convalescent humoral and cellular immunity is highly heterogeneous and highlights the need for using multiple assays to comprehensively measure SARS-CoV-2 convalescent immunity. These observations might have implications for COVID-19 surveillance, and optimal vaccination strategies for emerging variants. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal assessment of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in the context of emerging variants and unclear vaccination schedules.

RCH is known rapidly enhance cold tolerance of insects. Trehalose has been demonstrated to be one of the cryoprotectant in L. oryzophilus, an important invasive pest of rice in China. Trehalose synthesis mainly occurs through the TPS/TPP pathway in insects. In this study, LoTPS gene was cloned and characterized for the first time. Its expression and trehalose content changes elicited by RCH were investigated. Our results revealed that RCH not only increased the survival rate of adults but also upregulated the gene expression level of LoTPS and increased trehalose content under low temperature. We hypothesized upregulated LoTPS promoted trehalose synthesis and accumulation to protect adults from low-temperature damage. To further verify the function of LoTPS gene, we employed RNAi technology. Our findings showed that RCH efficiency disappeared and failed to increase the survival rate when the adults were fed dsRNA of LoTPS. Additionally, inhibiting LoTPS gene expression resulted in no significant difference in trehalose content between RCH and non-RCH treatments. Furthermore, the expression patterns of TRET and TRE were also affected. Collectively, these results indicate the critical role of LoTPS in L. oryzophilus cold resistance after RCH induction. LoTPS can enhance the survival ability by regulating trehalose metabolism. These findings contribute to further understanding of the role of TPS in insect cold resistance and invasiveness of L. oryzophilus. Moreover, RNAi of the LoTPS opens up possibilities for novel control strategies against L. oryzophilus in the future.

Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an essential odd-chain saturated fatty acid with broad activities relevant to protecting cardiometabolic, immune, and liver health. C15:0 activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR, both of which are core components of the human longevity pathway. To assess the potential for C15:0 to enhance processes associated with longevity and healthspan, we used human cell-based molecular phenotyping assays to compare C15:0 with three longevity-enhancing candidates: acarbose, metformin, and rapamycin. C15:0 (n=36 activities in 10 of 12 cell systems) and rapamycin (n=32 activities in 12 of 12 systems) had the most clinically relevant, dose-dependent activities. At their optimal doses, C15:0 (17 µM) and rapamycin (9 µM) shared 24 activities across 10 cell systems, including anti-inflammatory (e.g., lowered MCP-1, TNFɑ, IL-10, IL-17A/F), antifibrotic, and anticancer activities, which are further supported by previously published in vitro and in vivo studies. Paired with prior demonstrated abilities for C15:0 to target longevity pathways, hallmarks of aging, aging rate biomarkers, and core components of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, our results support C15:0 as an essential nutrient with activities equivalent to, or surpassing, leading longevity-enhancing candidate compounds.

Background: Proteins targeted by the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) are identified for degradation by the proteasome, which has been implicated in the development of neuro-degenerative diseases. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules present peptides broken down by the proteasome and are involved in neuronal plasticity, regulating synapse number and axon regeneration in the central or peripheral nervous system during develop-ment and in brain diseases. The mechanisms governing these effects are mostly unknown, but evidence from different compartments of the cerebral cortex indicates the presence of im-mune-like MHC receptors in the central nervous system. Methods: We have used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) differentiated to neural stem cells and then to motor neurons as a developmental model to better understand the structure of the proteasome in developing motor neurons. We perform a proteomic analysis of starting human skin fibroblasts, their matching iPSC, differentiated neural stem cells and motor neurons that highlighted significant differences in the constitutive proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits during development towards motor neurons from iPSC. Results: Proteomic analysis showed that the catalytic proteasome subunits expressed in fi-broblasts differ to those in neural stem cells and motor neurons. Western blot analysis con-firmed the proteomic data, particularly the decreased expression of Beta5i (PSMB8) subunit immunoproteasome. Conclusion: The constitutive proteasome subunits are upregulated in iPSC from HFF and the immunoproteasome subunit beta 5i expression is higher in MN than NSC suggesting a im-munoproteasome phenotype in MN. The immunoproteasome may have implications on motor neuron development and neurodevelopmental diseases that warrants further investi-gation.

Sracocystis cruzi in cattle (Bos taurus) and Sarcocystis poephagicanis in yaks (Bos grunniens) are morphologically indistinguishable. However, the relationship of the two parasites is still un-clear. Here, muscular tissues of the two domestic animals collected from abattoirs in China were examined for sarcocysts of S. cruzi and S. poephagicanis. The sarcocysts isolated from the samples were processed for light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and DNA analysis. Sarcocysts of S. cruzi and S. poephagicanis were found in 405 of 950 (42.6%) cattle and 304 of 320 (95.0%) yaks, respectively. By LM and TEM, the sarcocysts of the two parasites showed similar morphologically characteristics. The thin-walled sarcocysts had hair-like protrusions on the surface. Ultrastructures exhibited the primary cyst wall contained irregularly folded, hirsute or bone-like protrusions. Four genetic markers, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, mitochondrial cox1, and apicoplast rpl6 of the two parasites were sequenced and analyzed. The sequences of the four loci presented an interspecific identity of 97.9−98.6%, 97.2−98.1%, 89.5−90.4%, and 96.9−97.2%, respec-tively. Phylogenetic analysis using 28S rDNA and cox1 sequences indicated that both species were placed into a group encompassing Sarcocystis spp. in ruminants with canid as known or putative definitive hosts. Sarcocystis cruzi and S. poephagicanis should represent separated species, and cox1 and rpl6 was suitable for distinguishing between them.

Dengue virus is becoming a major public health threat worldwide principally in Africa. From 2016 to 2020, 23 outbreaks were reported in Africa principally in West Africa. In Senegal outbreak are reported yearly since 2017 ; data about the circulating serotypes and their spatial and temporal distribution are limited to 2017 – 2018 period. Herein we describes up to date molecular surveillance of circulating DENV serotypes in Senegal between 2019 to 2023 and their temporal and spatial distribution around the country. For this purpose collected suspected DENV infections samples were subjected to dengue detection and serotyping using RT-qPCR methods. Positive samples subjected to temporal and spatial mapping. Subset of DENV+ samples were then sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results show a co-circulation of three DENV serotypes with a overall predominance of DENV-3 followed by DENV-1 with scarce cases of DENV-2 from 02_2019 to 02_2022. Interestingly data shows extinct of both serotype 1 and serotype 2 and the only circulation of DENV-3 from March 2022 to July 2023. At the genotype level analysis shows that sequenced strains belong to same genotype as previously described DENV-1 belong to genotype V, DENV-2 to cosmopolitan genotype and DENV-3 to Genotype III. Interestingly newly obtained DENV 1-3 sequences cluster in different clades within genotypes. This co-circulation of strains belonging to different clades could have effect on virus epidemiology and transmission dynamic. Overall our results highlight DENV serotypes replacement by DENV-3 accompanied by wider geographic distribution in Senegalese regions. All unmentioned results highlight the importance of virus genomic surveillance and call for further fitness studies using both in vitro and in vivo model as well as in depth phylogeographic study to uncover the virus dispersal patterns across the country.

(1) Background: Type-2 Diabetes (T2DM) is a long-term medical disorder characterized by Insulin deficiency and high blood glucose levels. Among other medication to cure T2DM, the review of the literature found that various Pyrimidine derivative act as an agonist for G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) was proposed to control blood glucose levels by enhancing the function of pancreatic beta-cells and its mechanism of action with fewer adverse effects.; (2) Methods: In the present research work, in-silico investigations were carried out to investigate the potential of Pyrimidine analogue as an agonists to the protein target GPR119 receptor. We performed exhaustive molecular modelling and protein modelling methodologies such as homology mod-elling, molecular docking along with various drug designing tools such as 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore mapping to ascertain the design of better GPR119 agonists.; (3) Results: On the basis of in-depth computa-tional studies, we designed new pyrimidine moiety and analyzed them for GPR-119 receptor agonist and fur-ther explored the ADME properties. Designed compounds found to exhibit better predicted activities as com-pared to reference compound; (4) Conclusions: The current research on pyrimidine derivatives, using molec-ular docking, 3D-QSAR and Pharmacophore mapping demonstrated that the obtained computational model has significant properties and the designed molecules and Dataset from this model, produced antidiabetic compound against the target GPR119 i.e., compound 1S, 1Z and 1D with the docking score of −11.696, -9.314 and -8.721 respectively. The pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness studies revealed that these compounds may be the future candidate for the treatment of diabetes acting via GPR119 agonist mechanism.

A 4×2 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of feeding dietary gamma-oryzanol and vitamin E tocotrienols in hens reared in 840 (low cage density; LCD) or 420 cm2/hen (high cage density; HCD). A total of 120 hens were allocated into eight groups with five replicates. Diets were a control (CON) or the control diet supplemented with 200 ppm gamma-oryzanol (GO-200), 200 ppm vitamin E tocotrienols (VE-200) or 200 ppm gamma-oryzanol + 200 ppm vitamin E tocotrienols (GE-400). Results showed that HCD-housed hens decreased (P < 0.01) egg performance and quality. Average egg weight (AEW), egg mass and FCR improved in all supplemented treatments. Results on the AEW, FCR, and eggshell qualities of birds kept at the HCD revealed the best responses in the GE-400 group (P < 0.01). Among hens kept on an HCD, there was a noticeable decrease in HMGCR mRNA abundance in the VE-200 group, while the highest IFN-γ mRNA abundance was found in hens fed the GO-200 diet (P < 0.05). Thus, this study suggested that dietary GO or VE at 200 ppm either individually or in combination could improve performance and egg quality as well as regulate the abundance of immune- and stress-related genes.

Chronic pain has increasingly become a significant health challenge, not just as a symptomatic manifestation but also as a pathological condition with profound socioeconomic implications. Despite the expansion of medical interventions, the prevalence of chronic pain remains remarkably persistent, prompting a turn towards non-pharmacological treatments, such as therapeutic education, exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy. With the advent of cognitive neuroscience, pain is often presented as a primary output derived from the brain, aligning with Engel's Biopsychosocial Model which views disease not solely from a biological perspective but also considering psychological and social factors. This paradigm shift, brings forward potential misconceptions and over-simplifications. The current review delves into the intricacies of nociception and pain perception. It questions long-standing beliefs like the cerebral-centric view of pain, the forgotten role of the peripheral nervous system in pain chronification, misconceptions around central sensitization syndromes, the controversy about the existence of a dedicated pain neuromatrix, the consciousness of the pain experience and the possible oversight of factors beyond the nervous system. In re-evaluating these aspects, the review emphasizes the critical need for understanding the complexity of pain, urging the scientific and clinical community to move beyond reductionist perspectives and consider the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon.

The use of plant-based and microorganism-based biological inputs is a sustainable agricultural practice, promoting a suitable and better utilization of non-renewable resources in the environment. The benefits of using microorganisms are associated with both direct and indirect mechanisms, primarily related to improvements in nutrient absorption and availability, as well as plant growth. The main benefits of using biochemical pesticides are the promotion of sustainability and the management of resistance. Although the use of microorganisms and botanical metabolites is a promising agricultural alternative, it is still primarily concentrated in grain crops. However, due to the wide range of mechanisms of action of plant-based and microorganism-based biological inputs, there is an opportunity to expand their use in agriculture. In the Brazilian biological inputs market, various terminologies have been used to characterize biological-based products, with many of these terms being employed incorrectly and sometimes conflicting with the country’s legislation. Therefore, this review presents the classes of biological inputs and the application and evolution of the plant-based and microbiological-based product market in different crops in Brazil.

Background: The immunomodulatory role of 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) is exerted through its interaction with the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) present on pancreatic and immune cells. While a deficiency in Vitamin D has been linked to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), the exact molecular mechanism driving this down-regulation in T1DM is yet to be fully understood. This study aimed to decipher differences in the expression of genes associated with Vitamin D metabolism in T1DM patients and to ascertain if there is a correlation between serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels and the expression of these genes. We also sought to understand the influence of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) on the expression of Vitamin D metabolism genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of T1DM patients. Furthermore, the study delved into the potential implications of altered Vitamin D metabolism genes and miRNAs on autoimmune processes. Methods: Utilizing real-time PCR, we assessed the expression profiles of genes encoding for 1-hydroxylases (CYP27B1) and 24-hydroxylases (CYP24A1), as well as related miRNAs, in PBMCs from 30 T1DM patients and 23 healthy controls. ELISA tests facilitated the measurement of 1,25(OH)2D3, GAD65, and IA-2 levels. Results: Our findings showcased down-regulated CYP27B1 mRNA levels, while CYP24A1 expression remained stable compared to healthy subjects (CYP27B1, p = 0.0005; CYP24A1, p = 0.205, respectively). In T1DM patients, the levels of has-miR-216b-5p were found to be increased, while the levels of has-miR-21-5p were decreased in comparison to the control group. Notably, no correlation was identified between the expression of CYP27B1 in T1DM patients and the levels of has-miR-216b-5p, has-miR-21-5p, and 1,25(OH)2D3. A significant negative correlation was identified between CYP27B1 mRNA levels in PBMCs of T1DM and IA2, but not with GAD65. Conclusions: The study highlights there were reduced levels of both CYP27B1 mRNA and has-miR-21-5p, along with elevated levels of has-miR-216b-5p in the PBMCs of T1DM. However, the absence of a correlation between the expression of CYP27B1, levels of has-miR-216b-5p, and the status of 1,25(OH)2D3 suggests the possible existence of other regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, the inverse relationship between IA2 autoantibodies and CYP27B1 expression in T1DM patients indicates a potential connection between this gene and the autoimmune processes inherent in T1DM.

The high protein content of several microalgal species makes them attractive and unconventional for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Due to microalgae's robust cell wall, cell rupture is necessary to improve the extraction of their intracellular proteins. Thus, choosing a suitable cell-breaking treatment before protein extraction is a vital downstream processing step. Additionally, it is necessary to use an effective technique for monitoring and measuring the impact of rupture treatments on microalgal cell walls. In our study, Tetradesmus obliquus cells were disrupted by three different mechanical rupture methods: high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasound (US), and ball milling (BM). The ruptured biomass cells were counted, and soluble proteins were extracted and quantified. The cell counting technique did not detect differences between intact and damaged cells after BM treatment because the dye (erythrosine B) did not permeate the microalgae biomass accurately. The US treatment promoted the highest yield of total protein extraction (19.95%). The yields of protein extraction of T. obliquus with HPH (15.68%) and BM (14.11%) were significantly (p value ≤ 0.05) lower than that achieved in the US treatment. The increase in the number of extraction steps increased the protein recovery. Thus, the content of extracted soluble protein was a reliable indirect index for a quantitative comparison of the cell disruption level.

Chamois are mountain ungulates (Subfamily Caprinae) which inhabit several medium and high altitude mountain ranges from southern Europe to the Near East. The first findings of Sarcocystis cysts in the musculature of chamois were reported in the 1970s. However, only limited work on the epidemiology of sarcocystosis and identification of the species of Sarcocystis in chamois has been done in the past. The present work was part of a comprehensive study on the parasites of chamois in Germany aiming to provide, for the first time, data on the prevalence and intensity of Sarcocystis infection in native Alpine chamois using histology examination of heart and/or diaphragm tissue samples collected from 216 chamois (40 kids and 176 chamois ranging of one up to 18 years of age). Sarcocysts were detected in either heart or diaphragm of 167/216 chamois (77.3%) with 131 of 183 heart samples and 127 of 215 diaphragm samples testing sarcocyst positive. Of the 181 chamois with both heart and diaphragm available (34 kids and animals up to 18 years of age), sarcocysts were detected in heart and/or diaphragm of 142 animals translating in an overall 78.5% prevalence of Sarcocystis infection (95%CI 72.5% - 84.4%). Sarcocysts were more frequently recorded in heart vs. diaphragm (72.4% vs. 56.4%; p=0.0021), and diaphragm positivity was associated with heart positivity (p=0.0001). Sarcocyst positivity (heart and/or diaphragm) was significantly (p<0.001) lower in kids than in the older chamois (27.1% vs. 88.6%, respectively) but prevalence did not differ between the sexes, regardless of the chamois’ age (p>0.3). Intensity of infection was generally low (<10 sarcocysts per cm² muscle cut) in both heart positive and diaphragm positive animals (94.7% and 93.7%, respectively) with heart yielding higher sarcocyst counts than diaphragm (p<0.001). Both heart and diaphragm sarcocyst counts were significantly (p<0.001) lower in kids than in the older chamois. Sarcocystis infection was demonstrated to be prevalent in chamois in Germany but intensity is apparently low. Further studies are desired to identify the species of Sarcocystis parasitizing the chamois using both phenotypic and molecular characteristics.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a major risk factor for the development of oxidation and inflammation. Ryegrass (pasture), a natural dietary fiber source, acts as an antioxidant with well-known anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aimed to examine the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-dependent Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein 1- Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) signaling pathway that facilitates the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of pasture and its protective effects on ileal permeability, systemic inflammation, nutrient absorption, liver dysfunction, growth performance, intestinal organ development, and metabolic syndrome in commercial diet-challenged geese. The lipopolysaccharides (LPS), ALP, ROS, and tight junction proteins were determined from the ileum tissues, and the antioxidant enzymes, immunoglobulins, and metabolic syndrome were determined from liver tissues via Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. While the Nrf2 and LPS/ROS/Keap1-induced inflammatory cytokines were determined by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method. The intestinal morphology was examined by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining to determine nutrient absorption in ileal tissues. Pasture-dependent ALP activity significantly ameliorated commercial diet-induced LPS and ROS-facilitated ileal barrier dysfunction and systemic inflammation. The pasture supplementation induced nutrient absorption by influencing intestinal organ development. Our biochemical assays showed that the activation of Nrf2 significantly increased antioxidant enzymes and immunoglobulins, and decreased Keap1 and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the liver tissues after pasture supplementation. The correlation analysis of ALP, LPS, ROS, and Keap1-Nrf2 pathway-dependent antioxidant enzymes with other host markers showed that pasture supplementation induced intestinal barrier function via reducing LPS/ROS-induced intestinal permeability and systemic inflammation in the ileum and liver tissues. Pasture intake might attenuate LPS/ROS-induced gut permeability, systemic inflammation, and metabolic syndrome and augment gut barrier functions, nutrient absorption, immunity, and growth performance, possibly by its Keap1-Nrf2 pathway-dependent antioxidant properties.

Trichoderma spp. are widely used in plant disease control as biocontrol agents. Inducing plant disease resistance is an important biocontrol mechanism of Trichoderma. It is of great significance to explore the factors involved in the surface recognition and interaction of Trichoderma with plants. Hydrophobin is a small molecular protein rich in cysteine in higher filamentous fungi and has been found to participate in the morphogenesis and interaction of fungi with other organisms. In this study, the type II hydrophobic protein-coding gene Thfb6 from T. harzianum TH33 was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The purified recombinant protein Thfb6 induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco leaves, a burst of reactive oxygen species, and an accumulation of callose, phenolic substances, and lignin in tobacco, indicating that Thfb6 can induce an early defense reaction in tobacco. Thfb6 also enhanced the systemic resistance of tobacco against tobacco mosaic virus. The rate of lesion number reduction by treatment with Thfb6 could be up to 36.02%. Thfb6 increased the activity of tobacco defense-related enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase, which were all more than three times the control after 3–5 days post treatment of Thfb6. The transcription of resistance-related genes, including the PAL gene, non-expresser of pathogenesis-related gene1 (NPR1), and basic pathogenesis-related gene 1 (PR1-b), were upregulated after Thfb6 treatment. The relative expression levels of the PAL and NPR1 genes were highest on the third and fourth days after Thfb6 treatment, at 5.5 times and 8.3 times that of the control, respectively. The relative expression level of PR1 on the sixth day after Thfb6 treatment was 5.3 times that of the control. These results indicate that the improvement of defense-related enzyme activity and the induced expression of disease-resistance-related genes were the main mechanisms by which Thfb6 induced systemic resistance in tobacco.

Understanding the molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression is critical to develop effective treatment strategies. Recently, mutations in genes encoding histone proteins have been identified that drive oncogenesis, converting these essential proteins into “oncohistones”. Understanding how oncohistone mutations, which are commonly missense mutations, subvert the normal function of histones to drive oncogenesis requires defining the functional consequences of such changes. Histones genes are present in multiple copies in the human genome with 15 genes encoding histone H3 isoforms, the histone for which the majority of oncohistone variants have been analyzed thus far. With so many histone genes, engineering human cell lines that assess changes induced by sole expression of the oncohistone variant is technically challenging. In contrast to humans, budding and fission yeast contain only two or three histone H3 genes, respectively. Furthermore, yeast histones share ~90% sequence identity with human H3 protein. The genetic simplicity and evolutionary conservation make yeast an excellent model for characterizing oncohistones. The power of genetic approaches can also be exploited in yeast models to define cellular signaling pathways that could serve as actionable therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the value of yeast models to serve as a discovery tool that can inform subsequent translational studies in humans.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Key to cancer initiation and progression is the crosstalk between cancer cells and their microenvironment. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major component of the tumour microenvironment and integrins, main cell-ECM adhesion receptors, are involved in every step of cancer progression. However, accumulating evidence has shown that integrins can act as tumour promoter but also as tumour suppressor factors, revealing that the biological roles of integrins in cancer are complex. This incites a better understating of integrin function in cancer progression. To achieve this goal, simple model organisms, such as Drosophila, offer a great potential to unravel underlying conceptual principles. Here, we find that in the Drosophila wing disc epithelium the PS integrins act as suppressors of tumours induced by a gain of function of the oncogenic form of Ras, RasV12. We show that PS integrin depletion enhances the growth, delamination and invasive behaviour of RasV12 tumour cells, as well as their ability to affect the tumour microenvironment. These results strongly suggest that integrin function as tumour suppressors might be evolutionary conserved. Drosophila can be used to understand the complex tumour modulating activities conferred by integrins, thus facilitating drug development.

This study aimed to delineate the longitudinal antibody responses to the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) within the Ugandan subset of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) demographic, filling a significant gap in global datasets. We enrolled 48 participants, collecting 320 specimens over 12 months after vaccination. A validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations (ng/ml) and optical densities (ODs). Statistical analyses included box plots, diverging bar graphs, and the Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction. We showed a robust SIgG response within 14 days of the primary vaccine dose, consistent with global data. Remarkably, we observed no significant surge in S-IgG levels following the booster, contrasting trends other global populations. The S-IgM response was transient, and predominantly established thresholds, reflecting its typical early emergence and subsequent decline. S-IgA increased initially but declined six months post-vaccination, in line with the temporal dynamics of mucosal immunity. Eleven breakthrough infections occurred; however, all were asymptomatic, indicating a protective effect from the vaccination regardless of the participants' initial S-IgG serostatus. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine elicited strong S-IgG responses in the SSA demographic. However, antibody dynamics distinctly differed from global data highlight the significance of region-specific research and the necessity for customized vaccination strategies.

This work focused on Diplectanum aequans, a gill parasite of Dicentrarchus labrax. Analyzes allowed us to detect factors regulating parasites distribution on Corsican fish-farms, and to highlight the ecological structure of D. aequans communities on gills of fish. The study of parasite distribution showed that bigger fish appear more parasitized and that the infection dynamics of D. aequans can be explained by several factors such as biotic factors or farm environment conditions. The study of gill repartition of D. aequans showed that parasites tend to have a homogeneous distribution with no statistically significant difference in infection between two sides on each fish. However, the distribution of the number of parasites on gill arches varies according to the total number of parasites. Results differ depending on infection degree and host weight. When parasites are numerous, the individuals are distributed on the gill arches according to an antero-posterior gradient, while with low rates of infection, the parasites are randomly distributed on the 4 arches. The spatial distribution of D. aequans appears to be determined by the differential action of water flow through gill arch and the size of anterior arches. We also proposed a tool in order to reduce the sampling effort and allow optimal exploitation for fish farmers.

Immunohistochemistry staining is an essential method in pathological diagnoses. Podoplanin (PDPN) is a specific maker of alveolar epithelium, lymphatic vessels, and glomeruli. In this study, we established a novel anti-giraffe PDPN (girPDPN) mAb, PMab-301, using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method. PMab-301 (mouse IgG₁, kappa) detected girPDPN in various applications, such as flow cytometry, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. PMab-301 specifically stained type-I alveolar cells using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded giraffe lung tissues. Our findings suggest the potential usefulness of PMab-301 for the pathophysiological analyses of giraffe tissues.

This paper aims to establish a current relationship between pharmaceutical sciences and the development of perfumes and fragrances, which bring significant economic benefits and whose added value is among other professionals, the one made by professionals in Pharmacy. For this purpose, historical data are used as a starting point and galenic, chemical and botanical aspects are discussed in a transversal way. In this sense, it must be taken into account that in the case of Spanish pharmacy, it is closely linked to the knowledge and use of plants. Sources such as Web of Science (WOS) and databases such as Scopus, monographs and various web pages (where scientific-technical documents appear) have been used. The results and discussion are based on the selection of the 50 plant species most commonly used in high quality fragrances. Therefore, this publication should be considered as an approach to this subject based on an analysis of a representative sample of data. Some characteristics of perfumes (classification according to the concentration of essential oils and combination of plant extracts) are presented beforehand. They also briefly compile the traditional and modern ways in the treatment of these extracts. The main focus of this work is the botanical and chemical analysis of these described plants, pointing out their common name, correct botanical name, geographical place of origin, used part of the plant and main molecules. The 50 botanical species belong to 27 families of angiosperms and are represented in a large part of the phylogenetic tree of botanical systematics. The most significant families are aromatic: Rutaceae (16.7%), Lamiaceae (16.7%) and Apiaceae (6.5%). The most represented genus is Citrus (with seven species or hybrids). However, it should be noted that natural extracts of good quality natural fragrances may be supplemented with chemically synthesized molecules. Of the 50 botanical species selected, 84% of the extracts have their origin in Tropical Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. This figure generally coincides with the percentage of medicinal plants (or their extracts) admitted by the European Pharmacopoeia. All parts of a plant (depending on which one it is) can be a source of molecules for the elaboration of these products. The most commonly used parts to obtain extracts are flowers (34%) and leaves (30%), a biological circumstance that is explained in this work. On the opposite side are the resins (10%), rhizomes and roots (8%). In this work, 110 molecules have been found that are part of the essences of perfumes and fragrances, the most frequent are: linalool, limonene, 1,8-cineole, eugenol and derivatives, geraniol, vanillin and derivatives, β-cariophyllene, p-cmene and farnesene and derivatives (3.64%). However, in order to elaborate a quality perfume, many other molecules must be taken into account, according to the creative experience of the perfumer, which is subject to confidentiality and chemical analysis according to current legislation, which would avoid fraud, allergy and dermatitis problems.

This paper explores the ethical considerations surrounding the research on echinoderms, a group of invertebrates that has recently garnered attention in the scientific community. We emphasize the importance of responsible animal handling and the need for an ethical framework that encompasses echinoderms. The 3R's principle, advocating for the replacement of conscious living vertebrates with non-sentient material in research, is discussed as a guiding tool in current animal research practices. As invertebrates are generally classified as non-sentient animals, the Replacement dimension tends to favor them as prevalent models in experimental research. While we currently lack the means to assess the mental states of invertebrates, there is undeniable evidence of social behavior in many species, suggesting that a lack of interactions with these organisms could potentially adversely affect their well-being. In the last few years, considerable progress has been made in developing an ethical framework that takes invertebrates into account, particularly cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In this context, we discuss the development of a broader conceptual framework of 5R’s that includes Responsibility and Respect, which may guide practices ensuring welfare in echinoderms, even in the absence of any particular normative.

Efforts towards an effective HIV-1 vaccine have remained mainly unsuccessful. There is increasing evidence for a potential role of HLA-C-restricted CD8+ T cell responses in HIV-1 control, including our recent report of HLA-C*03:02 among African children. However, there are no documented optimal HIV-1 CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by HLA-C*03:02; additionally, the structural influence of HLA-C*03:02 on epitope binding is undetermined. Immunoinformatics approaches provide a fast and inexpensive method to discover HLA-restricted epitopes. Here, we employed immunopeptidomics to identify HLA-C*03:02-restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes. We identified a clade-specific Gag-derived GY9 (GTEELRSLY) HIV-1 p17 matrix epitope exclusively restricted to HLA-C*03:02. Residues E62, T142, and E151 in the HLA-C*03:02 binding groove and positions p3, p6, and p9 on the GY9 epitope are crucial in shaping and stabilizing the epitope binding. Our findings support the growing evidence of the contribution of HLA-C molecules to HIV-1 control and provide a prospect for vaccine strategies.

Intergenerational Justice entitles the maximum retention of Earth’s Biodiversity. The United Nations COP 15 committed to the protection of 30% of Earth’s terrestrial environments to provide Biospheric Sustainability. However, proactive amphibian sustainability needs support from amphibian Reproduction Technologies, Biobanking, and Conservation Breeding Programs [RBCs]. These technologies include the reliable practice of stimulation of reproduction and the collection of sperm and oocytes, refrigerated and cryopreserved sperm storage, in vitro fertilization. Emerging technologies promise the perpetuation of species solely from biobanked biomaterials. However, although exemplary national programs for amphibian RBCs are now established in the USA and Australia, these potentials are not fully realised resulting in unacceptable biodiversity loss. To fully realise these potentials an independent and democratic global organisation is proposed to, 1) focus on the bioregions with the highest amphibian biodiversity, 2) maximise regional inclusion in international initiatives, and 3) provide for maximum community engagement and financial resources. We present the first overall multidisciplinary review of amphibian RBCs, including their geopolitical, cultural, and scientific background, along with their development and application to economically, efficiently, and reliably, perpetuate amphibian biodiversity. We provide genetic models, the potential for diploid cell cryopreservation to perpetuate species, along with significant new information on methodologies and techniques, and standardise nomenclature for specificity in publications and media consistency.

Background: Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, associated with severe liver diseases, necessitating ongoing research on novel drug candidates. This study aims to identify potential drug candidates targeting HBV core protein (HBcAg) and disrupting capsid assembly, a critical step in the virus's life cycle. Methods: HBcAg in complex with HBV inhibitors were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). CavityPlus server was used for analysis of druggable cavity. Structure-based pharmacophores were extracted from identified cavities, and potential allosteric ligand binding sites were assessed using CavPharmer, CorrSite, and CovCys. LigandScout was employed for ligand-based pharmacophore screening against an FDA-approved library. The ZINC database was screened with features extracted from CavPharmer. Molecular docking studies were conducted using Autodock Vina. Lead compounds were selected based on docking scores, binding modes, and interactions within the druggable cavity. Results: Strong druggable pockets were found for Ciclopirox, while Compound 24, NVR10-001E2, and others showed medium to weak pockets. Ligand-based pharmacophores varied in size and complexity. Screening revealed potential hits matching these pharmacophores, including Ciclopirox olamine, Voriconazole, Enasidenib, and Statins. A large compound database search yielded additional hits like ZINC86859997 and ZINC63280172. Docking analyses confirmed these hits' potential, highlighting their interactions with critical HBc protein residues, offering promising leads for hepatitis B drug development. Conclusions: Voriconazole, Enasidenib, and Lovastatin have shown promises. These hits displayed favorable interactions with crucial HBc protein residues, indicating their potential as lead compounds The mechanism of action of statins with anti-HBV activities also highlighted. This comprehensive approach offers valuable insights into targeting HBc protein for antiviral drug discovery.

Organic fertilizers are fertilizers made from organic materials which are partly or wholly derived from waste materials, the function of these fertilizers is to improve the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil, these fertilizers are processed through the composting process, these fertilizers are very much needed because they are difficult to obtain at a high price. expensive. This study aims to obtain data on the growth and yield of sweet corn, due to the use of agricultural waste as organic fertilizer. The research method was experimentally consisting of 5 treatments and 5 replications; ie P0 = Without organic fertilizer (control) P1 = Dosage of organic fertilizer 2.5 tons/ha, P2 = Dosage of organic fertilizer 5 tons/ha P3 = Dosage of organic fertilizer 7.5 tons/ha, P4 = Dosage of organic fertilizer 10 tons /ha using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) The results showed that organic fertilizer had a significant effect on plant height aged 30, 40 and 50 DAP, had a very significant effect on cob length at a dose of 10 t.ha-1 and, had no significant effect on cob weight, will still have a high weight of 350 g.cob-1 From this description it can be concluded that organic compost can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers which provides an increase in the growth and production of sweet corn plants at the use of 10 tons/ha.

Over the past few decades, phototherapy, encompassing the utilization of both natural and artificial light, has emerged as a dependable and non-invasive strategy for addressing a diverse range of illnesses, diseases, and infections. This therapeutic approach, primarily known for its efficacy in treating skin infections such as herpes and acne lesions, involves the synergistic use of specific light wavelengths and photosensitizers like methylene blue. Photodynamic therapy, as it is termed, relies on the generation of antimicrobial reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the interaction between light and externally applied photosensitizers. Recent research, however, has highlighted the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of light itself, marking a paradigm shift in focus from exogenous agents to the inherent photosensitivity of molecules found naturally within pathogens. Chemical analyses have identified specific organic molecular structures and systems, including porphyrins and conjugated C=C bonds, as pivotal components in molecular photosensitivity. Given the prevalence of these systems in organic life forms, there is an urgent need to investigate the potential impact of phototherapy on individual molecules expressed within pathogens and discern their contributions to the antimicrobial effects of light. This review delves into the recently unveiled key molecular targets of phototherapy, offering insights into their potential downstream implications and therapeutic applications. By shedding light on these fundamental molecular mechanisms, we aim to advance our understanding of phototherapy's broader therapeutic potential and contribute to the development of innovative treatments for a wide array of microbial infections and diseases.

Ready-to-eat fresh fruit have an increasing presence in international markets due to its convenience and health benefits. However, these produces are highly perishable and efficient technologies to increase their shelf life are needed. In the present research, different citrus fruit species and cultivars from organic farming were assayed to obtain enzymatically citrus segments. The best results in terms of segment quality were observed for ‘Hernandina’ clementine which was chosen to make a new ready-to-eat produce based on peeled citrus segments packaged in glass jars with slight syrup made on citrus juice and organic sugar cane. The most appreciated syrup was those containing 50-50 (v/v) of ‘Fino’ lemon juice and ‘Hernandina’ clementine based on the sensory scores given by the panellists. In addition, different pasteurization treatments were assayed to preserve the new produce safety and nutritional and sensory quality properties during storage at cold temperature. Results showed that pasteurization treatment at 50 °C for 45 min could be enough to avoid microbial contamination with mesophilic and psychrophilic aerobic bacteria or yeast and mould and to maintain sensory properties until five weeks of storage at 4 °C. In addition, only a 10 % reduction of vitamin C was observed from fresh segments or syrup until the end of storage period, showing that the new ready-to-eat produce would conserve high bioactive compound content and health benefits after pasteurization and prolonged cold storage.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a deadly pediatric leukemia driven by RAS pathway mutations, of which >35% are gain-of-function in PTPN11. Although DNA hypermethylation portends severe clinical phenotypes, the landscape of histone modifications and chromatin profiles in JMML patient cells have not been explored. Using global mass cytometry, Epigenetic Time of Flight (EpiTOF), we analyzed hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from five JMML patients with PTPN11 mutations. These data revealed statistically significant changes in histone methylation, phosphorylation and acetylation marks that were unique to JMML HSPCs when compared with healthy controls. Consistent with these data, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) analysis revealed significant alterations of chromatin profiles at loci encoding post translational modification enzymes, strongly suggesting their mis-regulated expression. Collectively, this study reveals histone modification pathways as an additional epigenetic abnormality in JMML patient HSPCs, thereby uncovering a new family of potential druggable targets for the treatment of JMML.

Plants of the golden Camellia group are not only high-quality camellia germplasm , but also a plant group with rich medicinal and nutritional value, which are used as food, cosmetics and traditional medicine in China. There are approximately 50 species in this group around the world, and more than 30 species of golden camelliaplants have been published in China. The leaves and flowers of these species have similar shapes, so they are often confused as species. Our study used simplified genome sequencing technology to construct a phylogenetic tree of plants in the Chinese golden Camellia group and describe the evolutionary relationships . At the same time, the secondary metabolic indexes of total phenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and ellagic acid in the leaves were determined., and principal component clustering analysis was performed . The results showed that the chemical classification and genetic phylogenetic trees showed some of the same trends, indicating that Camellia chinensis can be used as Biomarkers for chemical type. The research results provide phylogenetic information for the genotype and performance diversity of golden camelliaregionally distributed in China. At the same time, molecular biology phylogenetic methods are used to understand or explain the characteristics of secondary metabolites of golden Camellia , and provide theoretical basis for the search and development of potential bioactive substances.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. A growing body of evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation plays a crucial role as a pathogenetic mechanism in PD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the metabolic profile of PBMCs from PD patients and to search for a possible relationship be-tween cellular bioenergetics and YKL-40. Materials and methods: The study included 18 naïve PD and an age-matched control group (HC, n=7). Patients were diagnosed according to the MDS-PD, the UPDRS and the Hoen–Yahr scales. Mitochondrial activity was measured by a metabolic analyzer on isolated PBMCs from PD’s patients. Gene (qPCR) and protein (ELISA) expression levels of YKL40 were investigated. Results: New data are reported revealing changes in mito-chondrial activity and YKL-40 levels in PD patients. Bioenergetic parameters showed increased respiratory reserve capacity in the PD compared to HC. The protein levels of YKL-40 were three-fold higher in PD. We found a correlation between YKL-40 protein levels and basal respiration and between YKL-40 and ATP production. Conclusion: These observations suggest an interplay between YKL-40 and mitochondrial function in PD. We assume that YKL-40 gene and protein levels in combination with changes in mitochondrial function might serve as an additional tool to monitor the clinical course of PD.

The endogenous miRNAs of breast milk are the products of more than 1,000 nonprotein-coding genes, giving rise to mature small regulatory molecules of 19–25 nucleotides. They are incorporated in macromolecular complexes, loaded on Argonaut proteins, sequestrated in exosomes, lipid complexes, or present in exfoliated cells of epithelial, endothelial, or immune origins. Their expression is dependent on the stage of lactation, however their detection depends on progress in RNA sequencing and the reappraisal of small RNAs definition. Some miRNAs from plants are detected in breast milk, opening the possibility of stimulation of immune cells of the allergic repertoire. Each miRNA harbors a seeding sequence, which targets mRNAs, gene promoters, or long noncoding RNAs. Their activities depend on their bioavailability. Efficient doses of miRNAs are estimated at roughly 100 molecules in the cytoplasm of target cells from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Each miRNA is included in networks of stimulation/inhibition/sequestration driving the expression of cellular phenotypes. Three types of stress applied during lactation to manipulate miRNA supply, have been explored on the rodent offspring: foster mother, cafeteria diet, early weaning. The review present the main mature miRNAs described across current mothers’ cohorts, their bioavailability in experimental models, and the studies assessing the potentials of miR-26 or miR-320 miRNA families to alter offspring phenotype.

Background: Prostate cancer is a global health concern, necessitating ongoing research to enhance our comprehension of its molecular foundations and develop more efficacious therapeutic approaches. Among the emerging protagonists in this arena is Speckle-type POZ (pox virus and zinc finger protein) (SPOP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor protein. SPOP's recent ascent to prominence in prostate cancer research is attributed to its crucial role in regulating the Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling pathway. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge concerning SPOP mutations in prostate cancer. It seeks to elucidate their significance in characterizing the disease and their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus and google scholar to identify relevant studies published up to September 2023. Eligible studies included investigations of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer and their implications. Data extraction, quality assessment, and synthesis were performed in conformity to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: The review revealed that SPOP mutations are recurrent events in prostate cancer, with a notable prevalence in specific molecular subtypes. These mutations primarily affect the MATH domain of SPOP, disrupting its substrate recognition function. Notably, SPOP mutations have profound consequences on the AR signaling pathway, leading to increased AR protein stability and transcriptional activity. The clinical implications of SPOP mutations remain diverse, with varying associations with prognostic outcomes. Conclusion: SPOP mutations represent a significant facet of prostate cancer biology, influencing disease heterogeneity and clinical behavior. While their precise prognostic significance is evolving, their functional impact on the AR pathway highlights their potential as therapeutic targets. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer, contributing to our understanding of the disease's molecular landscape and therapeutic avenues.

There is a limited data on variation of microbial hygiene load in dairy products during different seasons. In this study, a longitudinal design with a simple random sampling method was used to collect data in the dry season (January to April) and wet season (June to August). A total of 448 milk and cottage samples were collected from 3 regions. Enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (APC), total coliforms (TCC), and Escherichia coli (EC) was performed according to standard methods. Independent t-test were employed to assess the significant variation at (p<0.05) between the two seasons. The cumulative result of APC of 7.61 log cfu/ml and g and TCC of 3.50 log cfu/ml in the dry season were significantly higher than wet season of 7.15 log cfu/ml and 2.49 log cfu/ml, respectively. Whereas generic E. coli count (EC) was significantly higher in the wet season (0.70 log cfu/ml and g) than that in the dry season (0.40 log cfu/ml and g). The results of hygienic indicator microbial load were significantly varied with season. Hence, a sustainable awareness creation on hygienic milk production and handling that comprehend seasonal influence should be implemented to improve the safety of milk.

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria (6-hydroxy-L-nicotine) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examined. A search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, limiting entries to those no later than July 2023, was conducted. The search focused specifically on articles pertaining to nicotine metabolites, memory, oxidative stress, cholinergic system activity, as well as enzymes or pathways related to nicotine degradation in bacteria. The preliminary search resulted in 696 articles, and following the application of exclusion criteria, 185 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion. This review focuses on experimental studies supporting nicotine catabolism in bacteria, and the chemical and pharmacological activities of nicotine and its metabolite 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine.

Several genetic tools have been developed for Clostridium acetobutylicum utilizing 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) resistance as a selection method. A method based on the integration, by single crossing-over, of a suicide plasmid (pCat-upp) followed by selection for the second crossing-over using a counter-selectable marker (the upp gene and 5FU resistance) was recently developed for genome editing in C. acetobutylicum. This method allows the modification of the genome without any marker or scar left in a strain of C. acetobutylicum that is ∆upp. Unfortunately, 5FU has strong mutagenic properties inducing mutations in the strain’s genome. After numerous applications of the pCat-upp/5FU system for genome modification in C. acetobutylicum, the bacteria became completely resistant to 5FU in the presence of the upp gene, resulting in failure in the selection for the second crossing-over. It was found that the potential repressor of the pyrimidine operon, PyrR, was mutated at position A115, leading to the 5FU resistance of the strain. We developed two plasmids, one overexpressing the native pyrR gene and a suicide plasmid carrying a non-mutated and optimized pyrR gene (pyrR*) and upp, which allowed us to restore the 5FU sensitivity of the strain. We also improved the pCat-upp/5FU system by reducing the concentration of 5FU from 1mM to 5 µM using a define synthetic medium.

Birds are highly social and need pairing in order to increase their welfare. Most bird species are monomorphic, therefore, molecular sexing helps to provide appropriate welfare for birds. Moreover, early sex determination can be of great value for bird owners. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that sex identification in birds by molecular methods, using samples collected by minimally invasive methods is fast, efficient and accurate. A total of 100 samples (29 paired samples of feathers - oral swab and 14 tripled samples of feathers - oral swab - blood) from 43 birds were taken into study, as follows: wild birds (Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, landfowl – Galliformes, waterfowl– Anseriformes), companion birds (Passeriformes, Psittaciformes – large, medium and small size parrots). Amplification of CHD1-Z and CHD1-W genes was performed by conventional PCR. The results obtained from feathers were compared to those obtained from oral swabs and with those obtained from blood samples, where was the case. The obtained results show that all types of samples can be used for molecular sexing of all studied species of birds. According to our knowledge, the present study reports for the first time the molecular sex identification in: Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata) and Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis major). For higher accuracy, our recommendation is to use minimally invasive samples (swab-feathers) and to test both types of samples, for each bird, instead of blood samples.

This research was carried out to know the species composition of the Arbuscular Micorrhizal Fungi (AMF) communities native to two contrasting soils, and to establish the development and stability of aggregates in those soils contained in pots, as substrates for corn plants in the greenhouse. These soils were inoculated with allochthonous AMF. The experiment had three factors: Soil (S with two levels [S1 and S2]); AMF (A with three levels: without application [A0], with application of Claroideoglomus claroideum [A1] and with application of a consortium [A2]) and Fertilization (f with two levels (without fertilization [f0] and with fertilization [f1]); which generated 12 treatments, each with five replicates (60 experimental units [EU]); the EU consisted of a pot with a plant of corn; with a completely random distribution. The results showed that the Typic Ustifluvent presented nine species of native AMF, while the Typic Dystrustert had only three species. The native AMF in each soil influenced the activity of the allochthonous AMF, with differences being found in the stability of the macro-sized aggregates (0.5 to 2.0 mm) of each soil when they did not receive fertilization

The in vitro production and cryopreservation of mammalian embryos generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to conditions of the system that can overcome their antioxidant protection. Resveratrol is an antioxidant used in in vitro systems improving blastocyst rates, but its effect on antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione (GSH) in embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) after vitrification has not been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol in the in vitro maturation medium (IVM) of sheep oocytes (Ovis aries) on the levels of ROS and GSH in embryos produced by IVF subjected to vitrification. Resveratrol was added at 0µM, 0.25µM, 0.5µM and 1µM during oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). Matured oocytes were fertilized with thawed ram sperm. Embryos were cultured in sequential media until blastocysts, then were vitrified for 24 h and after heating they were stained with DCFH-DA (2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) to determine the presence of ROS and with Cell Tracker Blue® for the presence of GSH. The quantitative values of ROS and GSH were obtained through the Image J image processor. The results showed that resveratrol increases GSH and decreases ROS production (p<0.05). It is concluded that its use in sheep oocytes during IVM has a beneficial effect on embryos produced by IVF subjected to vitrification, protecting them from oxidative damage by promoting the synthesis of antioxidants.

Transcriptional regulation constitutes a key step in gene expression regulation. Myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) is a transcription factor of MADS box family involved in the early development of several cell types including muscle cells. Over the last decade a novel layer of complexity modulating gene regulation is emerging as non-coding RNAs have been identified, impacting in both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. microRNAs represent the most studied and abundantly expressed subtype of small non-coding RNAs and their functional role have been widely documented. On the other hand, our knowledge on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that drive microRNA expression is still incipient. We recently demonstrated that MEF2C is able to transactive the long, but not short, regulatory element upstream of miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 transcriptional start site. However, MEF2C over-expression and silencing, respectively, displayed distinct effects on each of the miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 mature cluster members, without affecting pri-miRNA expression levels, supporting thus additional MEF2C-driven regulatory mechanisms. Within this study we demonstrated a complex post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms directed by MEF2C in the regulation of miR-23a-miR-27a-miR-24-2 cluster members, distinctly involving different domains of the MEF2C transcription factor and the physical interaction with pre-miRNAs and RNA interacting proteins such as Ksrp, HnRNPa3 and Ddx17.

The prevalent pathogens associated with bovine uterine infections are bacteria that appear to increase the host's susceptibility to secondary infections with other bacteria or viruses, among which BoHV-4 is the most frequently found. In this work, the study of the pathways of apoptosis induction was carried out on an experimental model of primary culture of endometrial cells, in order to know the implication of BoHV-4 and the presence of bacterial LPS in the pathogenesis of the bovine reproductive tract. For this, different staining techniques and molecular analysis by RT-PCR were used. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that the level of cell death observed in the proposed primary culture is directly related to the time of viral infection and the presence of LPS in BoHV-4 infection. The apoptosis indices in cells infected with BoHV-4, BoHV-4 + LPS presented a maximum that correlates with the appearance of the cytopathic effect, and the maximum viral titers in the model studied. However, morphological, biochemical and molecular changes were evident during both early and late stages of apoptosis. These findings provide information on the factors that may influence the pathogenesis of BoHV-4 and help to better understand the mechanisms involved in virus infection.

Within an amplicon-based metagenomic study of Archaea, Fungi, and Bacteria in Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica, in many of the samples antagonisms between these three super kingdoms were observed under the form of an inversely proportional dependence of the richnesses of the three types of microorganisms. This was quantified - based on the observed numbers of the total tags and the numbers of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as well as based on four alpha diversity parameters – the Shannon, the Simpson, the Chao1, and the ACE indices. We found that the most discriminative results in the antagonism measuring were observed in the comparison of the numbers of the OTUs and the ACE community richness estimator. The antagonism between Archaea and Fungi was strongest, followed by that of Archaea and Bacteria. The Fungi-Bacteria antagonism was slightly detectable. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis also showed a statistically significant negative correlation between the fungal and archaeal effective tags, while the correlation between archaeal and bacterial diversity was positive. Indications of the order of primary microbial succession in barren ecological niches were also observed, demonstrating that Archaea and Bacteria are the pioneers, followed by Fungi which in time would displace Archaea.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a significant challenge to global wheat production. Common wheat landraces AUS27507 and AUS27894 displayed stripe rust resistance against several commercially prevailing Pst pathotypes. These genotypes were crossed with a stripe rust susceptible landrace AUS27229 to understand inheritance of resistance and to determine genomic location(s) of underlying gene(s). F3 generations of crosses AUS27507/AUS27229 and AUS27894/AUS27229 showed monogenic segregation for stripe rust resistance under greenhouse conditions. The absence of segregation for stripe rust response among the AUS27507/AUS27894-derived F3 population suggested that both genotypes carry the same gene. The stripe rust resistance gene carried by AUS27507 and AUS27894 was tentatively named YrAW4. Bulked segregant analysis placed YrAW4 in the long arm of chromosome 2B. The AUS27507/AUS27229 F3 population was enhanced to develop an F6 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population for detailed mapping of chromosome 2BL. DArT-based SSR, STS and KASP markers were employed to enrich the 2BL map. DArT-based STS markers sun481 and SNP marker IWB12294 flanked YrAW4 proximally (1.8 cM) and distally (1.2 cM), respectively. Deletion mapping placed sun481 in the deletion bin 2BL-5. All stripe rust resistance genes, previously located on chromosome 2BL, neither express infection type like YrAW4, nor are mapped in the deletion bin 2BL-5. Hence YrAW4 represented a new locus and was formally named Yr72. The robustness of IWB12294 marker in marker-assisted selection was demonstrated by amplification of and alternative allele to that linked Yr72 in 21 common wheat background.

Norovirus (NoV) is recognised as a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups. Information on the genetic diversity of the NoVs circulating in the 1980s and 1990s, before the development and adoption of dedicated molecular assays, is limited compared to the last decades. In the period 1986-2020, uninterrupted viral surveillance was conducted in symptomatic children hospitalized for AGE in Palermo, Italy, providing a unique time capsule for exploring the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of enteric viruses. In this 35-year long time span NoVs of genogroup II (GII) were detected in 15.6% of AGE requiring hospitalization, whilst GI NoVs in 1.4%. Overall, the predominant NoV capsid (Cap) genotype was GII.4 (60.8%), with temporal replacement of the GII.4 Cap variants and associated polymerase (Pol) types. The chronology of emergence and circulation of the different GII.4 variants were consistent with the data available in literature. Also, for GII.3 and GII.2 NoVs the circulation of different lineages/strains, differing in either the Cap or Pol genes or in both, was observed. This long-term study revealed the ability of NoVs to modify continuously and rapidly their genomic makeup and highlights the importance of surveillance activities for vaccine design.

Keywords: Climate change, stress factors, Vitis spp., extreme climate events, sustainable agriculture

The relative proportions between nutrients affects the fate of them for metabolic interconversion, storage and turnover or, essentially for energy, in a process of partition modulated by hormonal and metabolic factors. A basic common chow model was used: ST or standard diet, HF high-fat and HP or high-protein had a common substrate. A CF cafeteria-type diet was added for comparison. Rats (female and male) received the diet for 30d. Nutrient intake and body composition were measured. Plasma glucose, lactate, testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were measured. Common groups energy intake, was largely based in carbohydrates CH, yielding 6C units, which were fully oxidized or stored as 2C fragments (fatty acids). Lactate (3C) was partially stored as glycerol of TAG. Accrual of 2C far exceeded about ten-fold that of 3C. Amino acid (AA) catabolism yielded 2C, 3C and 4C-5C fragments, the latter acting as Krebs cycle anaplerotic intermediates (KCAI), that facilitated the oxidation of 2C in detriment of TAG accumulation Lactate levels, were related to lactic dehydrogenase activities in muscle and liver. TAG accrual was maximal in CF, quite differently from HF with similar diet lipid proportion. Maximal rates of lipid storage were found in ST (and CF) groups. Females showed a higher ability to oxidize CH and to store less TAG. T increased N and protein deposition, whilst E2 decreased them favoring AA oxidation and the availability of KCAI. In the rat, an effective energy partition scheme requires that about half of the energy is provided by CH (polysaccharide), and needs enough protein to provide KCAI for a smooth 2C oxidation.

The MLL1 gene located on chromosome 11q23, is crucial for histone lysine-specific methylation and is frequently implicated in various leukemia types. Despite prior in silico investigations into non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) associated with leukemia in the MLL1 gene, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies evaluating their impact on the protein's structure, function, and post-translational modifications. Addressing this, our study screened 2049 nsSNPs from the dbSNP database, identifying 62 high-risk variants. A thorough domain analysis revealed that these nsSNPs are distributed across seven domains of the MLL1 protein, potentially affecting their functions. Our conservation analysis highlighted 31 nsSNPs as deleterious, suggesting their potential effects on protein stability and function. Furthermore, utilizing the MutPred2 tool, we identified mutations affecting metal-binding, protein loop structures, and post-translational modifications, which could alter the MLL1 protein's native functionality. Interaction network analysis underscored the role of MLL1 in hematopoietic cell development, implying that mutations may influence hematological malignancies. Additionally, a subset of non-coding SNPs was found to possess regulatory capabilities, potentially affecting gene expression and chromatin modification. Most significantly, using CScape and CScape-somatic tools, four nsSNPs were predicted to be oncogenic, with two classified as cancer drivers, underscoring their potential role in leukemia development. The oncogenic nsSNP, D2724G, located between the FY-rich N and FY-rich C domain of the MLL1 protein, has raised significant interest due to its potential impact on proteolytic cleavage. Predictive analyses, such as those by Mutpred2, suggest a loss of cleavage at D2724 caused by this mutation, potentially affecting the formation of essential MLL1 fragments, p320 and p180. These fragments play a crucial role in creating a stable multiprotein complex that localizes to a specific subnuclear region. Therefore, mutations like D2724G can potentially alter gene expression patterns, influencing cellular behavior and possibly fostering a cancer-prone environment. In conclusion, our research provides an in-depth assessment of the effects of nsSNPs in the MLL1 gene on leukemia, offering potential avenues for personalized treatment strategies, early detection, prognosis, and a better understanding of hematological malignancy genesis.

Monitoring water supply requires, among other quality indicators, the identification of the cyanobacte-ria community taking into account their potential impact in terms of water quality. In this work, cya-nobacteria strains were isolated from Cheffia reservoir and identified based on morphological features, 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic analysis, and toxin production by PCR screening of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of cyanotoxins (mcyA, mcyE, sxtA, sxtG, sxtI, cyrJ, and anaC). Thirteen strains repre-senting six different genera: Aphanothece, Microcystis, Geitlerinema, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, and Pseudanabaena were obtained. The results demonstrated the importance of morphological features in determining the genus or the species when incongruence between the morphological and phylogenetic analysis occurs and only the utility of the 16S rRNA gene on determining higher taxonomic levels. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the polyphyly of cyanobacteria for the Microcystis and Oscillatoriales genera. Unexpectedly, Aphanothece sp. CR 11 had the genetic potential to produce microcystins. Our study gives new insight instead of picocyanobacteria toxic genotype in this ecosystem. Thus, conven-tional water treatment methods in this ecosystem have to be adapted.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is manifested by hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, hepatocyte death, and systemic inflammation. Obesity induces steatosis and chronic inflammation in the liver. However, the precise mechanism underlying hepatic steatosis in the setting of obesity remains unclear. Here we report studies that address this question. Methods: 14 weeks on high-fat diet (HFD) with high sucrose, C57BL/6 mice revealed a phenotype of liver steatosis. Transcriptional profiling analysis of the liver tissues was performed using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: Our RNA-seq data revealed 692 differentially expressed genes involved in processes of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, immune responses, and cell proliferation. Notably, the gene encoding neutral sphingomyelinase SMPD3, was predominantly upregulated in the liver tissues of the mice displaying a phenotype of steatosis. Moreover, nSMase2 activity was elevated in these tissues of the liver. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of nSMase2 prevented intracellular lipid accumulation and TNFα-induced inflammation in in-vitro HepG2-steatosis cellular model. Furthermore, nSMase2 inhibition ameliorates oxidative damage by rescuing PPARα and prevent cell death associated with high glucose/oleic acid-induced fat accumulation in HepG2 cells. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings highlight the prominent role of nSMase2 in hepatic steatosis which could serve as a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD and other hepatic steatosis-linked disorders.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an RNA modification wherein N6-position of adenosine is methylated. It is one of the most prevalent internal modifications on RNA and regulates various aspects of RNA metabolism. M6A is deposited by m6A methyltransferases, removed by m6A demethylases and recognized by reader proteins, which modulate splicing, export, translation and stability of the modified mRNA. Recently evidence suggests that various classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long con-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also targeted by this modification. Depending on the ncRNA species, m6A may affect processing, stability, or localization of these molecules. The m6A modified ncRNAs are implicated in a number of diseases including cancer. In this review, I summarize the role of m6A modification in the regulation and function of ncRNAs in tumor development. Moreover, the potential applications in cancer prognosis and therapeutics is discussed.

Abrstract: Bacillus spp. it is a genus that is used to biocontrol post-harvest diseases in various vegetables and fruits during transportation and storage. It suppresses the development of pathogens such as gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry cultivation. In this work, the molecular characterization of Bacillus spp. species was carried out. in three cities in Peru: Huaura, Chanchamayo and Cañete. The samples were collected from rhizospheric soil from crop areas, subsequently processed for microbiological isolation, molecular analysis using the 16S rRNA gene and bioinformatic analysis. In total, 14 strains were obtained where they were identified with a minimum of 92.05% and a maximum of 100% similarity: 8 strains of Bacillus subtilis, 4 strains of Bacillus licheniformis, 1 strain of Bacillus paralicheniformis and 1 strain of Bacillus cereus, all the strains were related by constructing a phylogenetic tree.