Search Results (74,748)

Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), is a significant threat to global rice production. Conventional methods for disease management face limitations, emphasizing the importance of sustainable alternatives. In this study, two rice cultivars with different blast resistance abilities, the susceptible variety CO39 and the resistant variety Pi4b, were used as materials to study the effects of Piriformospora indica (Pi) on the resistance to M. oryzae infection and rice growth. The in vitro tests revealed no direct antagonistic interaction between Pi and M. oryzae. However, the in vivo experiments showed that Pi promoted plant growth by increasing root and shoot length, chlorophyll content, and nitrogen uptake, particularly in CO39 during pathogen infection. Pi inoculation also significantly reduced disease severity, which was indicated by smaller lesion areas and shorter lesion lengths in both cultivars but a more pronounced effect in CO39. This occurred due to the decreasing levels of MDA and the modulating activity of antioxidant enzymes in Pi-inoculated rice plants. At the early stage of M. oryzae infection, the expression of the ethylene signaling gene OsEIN2 and the gibberellin biosynthesis gene OsGA20ox1 in Pi-inoculated CO39 decreased but significantly increased in both rice cultivars at the later stage. The reverse was found for the pathogenesis-related (PR) genes OsPR10 and OsPBZ1 and the blast-resistant genes OsBRG1, OsBRG2, and OsBRW1, suggesting early growth suppression for rice resilience to blast followed by a later shift back to growth. Meanwhile, Pi inoculation increased OsCesA9 expression in rice to strengthen cell walls and establish the primary defense barrier against M. oryzae and upregulated the expression of OsNPR1 without a significant difference in CO39 but downregulated it in Pi4b to activate PR genes to enhance plant resistance. In summary, these results underscore the potential of Pi as a sustainable biological control agent for rice blast disease, which is particularly beneficial for blast-susceptible rice cultivars. Full article

This scoping review aims to understand the cell-based meat production process, including the regulations, potential hazards, and critical points of this production. This review includes studies on cultured meat production processes, health hazards, and regulatory guidelines, excluding those without hazard analysis, incomplete texts, or studies published before 2013. The search was performed in eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, LILACS, and Google Scholar) using MeSH terms and adaptations for each database. The search for local studies on regulations and guideline documents was complemented by a manual search on the websites of governments and regulatory agencies from different regions (e.g., FDA, FAO, EFSA, USDA, Health Canada, EC, EU, ANVISA/Brazil, MAPA/Brazil, FSANZ, and SFA). This step involved reading full texts to confirm eligibility and extract key data, including author, year, country, study design, objectives, results, cultured meat protocols, health hazards, and hazard control measures, followed by data analysis. A comprehensive search of the databases yielded 1185 studies and 46 regulatory or guidance documents. After removing duplicate studies and applying eligibility criteria to titles, abstracts and full texts, 35 studies and 45 regulatory or guidance documents were included. The cultured meat production protocols are well-established, highlighting potential hazards and critical control points. Although guidance documents and regulations are limited, they are expanding globally. The development and commercialization of cultured meat require clear, and up-to-date regulations and supervision, which are being studied and formulated by regulatory agencies worldwide. Cultured meat production presents some potential hazards (chemical, biological, and physical) that require food safety considerations: (i) genetic stability of cells/cell lines; (ii) microbiological hazards related to cell lines; (iii) exposure to substances used in the production process; (iv) toxicity and allergenicity of the product or its component for the population; (v) post-harvest microbiological contamination; (vi) chemical contamination/residue levels; and (vii) nutritional aspects/risks. Currently, no standardized testing approach exists for cultured meat. However, effective hazard and safety assessment strategies, such as HACCP combined with best practices, should be implemented throughout the production process. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention is a critical challenge for aging societies, necessitating the exploration of food ingredients and whole foods as potential therapeutic agents. This study aimed to identify natural compounds (NCs) with therapeutic potential in AD using an innovative bioinformatics-integrated deep neural analysis approach, combining computational predictions with molecular docking and in vitro experiments for comprehensive evaluation. We employed the bioinformatics-integrated deep neural analysis of NCs for Disease Discovery (BioDeepNat) application in the data collected from chemical databases. Random forest regression models were utilized to predict the IC₅₀ (pIC₅₀) values of ligands interacting with AD-related target proteins, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), amyloid precursor protein (APP), beta-secretase 1 (BACE1), microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), presenilin-1 (PSEN1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and valosin-containing protein (VCP). Their activities were then validated through a molecular docking analysis using Autodock Vina. Predictions by the deep neural analysis identified 166 NCs with potential effects on AD across seven proteins, demonstrating outstanding recall performance. The top five food sources of these predicted compounds were black walnut, safflower, ginger, fig, corn, and pepper. Statistical clustering methodologies segregated the NCs into six well-defined groups, each characterized by convergent structural and chemical signatures. The systematic examination of structure–activity relationships uncovered differential molecular patterns among clusters, illuminating the sophisticated correlation between molecular properties and biological activity. Notably, NCs with high activity, such as astragalin, dihydromyricetin, and coumarin, and medium activity, such as luteolin, showed promising effects in improving cell survival and reducing lipid peroxidation and TNF-α expression levels in PC12 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the efficacy of combining bioinformatics with deep neural networks to expedite the discovery of previously unidentified food-derived active ingredients (NCs) for AD intervention. Full article

The skin serves as a critical barrier against external pathogens, and its wound healing is a complex biological process that requires careful management to ensure optimal tissue regeneration. Hydrogels, a class of hydrophilic polymers, have emerged as promising materials for wound dressings due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to create a moist wound environment conducive to cell proliferation and migration. In this research, a hydrogel dressing containing cefdinir (Cef) was made from a combination of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin (Gel) by a physical crosslinking method, and their physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties were investigated. Results show that the addition of Cef does not cause a significant change in the morphology or the tensile strength of the wound dressing. The swelling and degradation rate of the hydrogel slightly increased in the presence of Cef. The presence of Cef enhanced antibacterial effects up to 2.5-fold against P. aeruginosa (35 mm), S. aureus (36 mm), and S. pyogenes (35 mm). The results of the cytotoxicity test showed the absence of cytotoxicity in both drug-containing and drug-free wound dressings, as well as a survival rate of over 75% in cells after 48 h. The drug-containing wound dressing accelerates the formation of the epidermis layer and the production of fibroblast cells, and as a result, accelerates the wound healing process. The percentage of wound healing on the ninth day of treatment for an untreated wound was 30%, while this percentage was 40% with a wound dressing without medicine and 60% with a wound dressing containing medicine, and on the fifteenth day of treatment, the wound treated with both wound dressings had more than 85% healing. As a result, it is possible to use CMC/Gel hydrogel polymeric wound dressing containing Cef as a wound dressing for wound healing, according to the desired physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. Full article

Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) relaxation by guanylyl cyclases (GCs) and cGMP is mediated by NO and its receptor soluble GC (sGC) or natriuretic peptides (NPs) ANP/BNP and CNP with the receptors GC-A and GC-B, respectively. It is commonly accepted that cultured SMCs differ from those in intact vessels. Nevertheless, cell culture often remains the first step for signaling investigations and drug testing. Previously, we showed that even popular reference genes changed dramatically after SMC isolation from aorta. Regarding NP receptors, a substantial amount of data relies on cell culture. We hypothesize that the NP/cGMP system in intact aortic tunica media differs from isolated and cultured aortic SMCs. Therefore, we studied isolation and culturing effects on the expression of NP receptors GC-A, GC-B, and NP clearance receptor (NPRC) compared to sGC. We investigated intact tunica media and primary SMCs from the longitudinal halves of the same rat aorta. GC activity was monitored by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In addition, we hypothesize that there are sex-dependent differences in the NP/cGMP cascade in both intact tissue and cultured cells. We, therefore, analyzed a male and female cohort. Expression was quantified by RT-qPCR comparing aortic media and SMCs with our recently validated reference gene (RG) small nuclear ribonucleoprotein 2 (U2). Only GC-A was stably expressed. In intact media, GC-A exceeded GC-B and NPRC. However, GC-B, NPRC, and sGC were dramatically upregulated in cultured SMCs of the same aortae different from the stable GC-A. The expression was mirrored by NP-induced GC activity. In cultured cells, changes in GC activity were delayed compared to receptor expression. Minor differences between both sexes could also be revealed. Thus, isolation and culture fundamentally alter the cGMP system in vascular SMCs with potential impact on drug testing and scRNAseq. Especially, the dramatic increase in the clearance receptor NPRC in culture might distort all physiological ANP, BNP, and CNP effects. Full article

Background: Sperm samples are separated into bad and good quality samples in function of their phenotype, but this does not indicate their genetic quality. Methods: Here, we used GeneChip miRNA arrays to analyze microRNA expression in ten semen samples selected based on high-magnification morphology (score 6 vs. score 0) to identify miRNAs linked to sperm phenotype. Results: We found 86 upregulated and 21 downregulated miRNAs in good-quality sperm (score 6) compared with bad-quality sperm samples (score 0) (fold change > 2 and p-value < 0.05). MiR-34 (FC × 30, p = 8.43 × 10⁻⁸), miR-30 (FC × 12, p = 3.75 × 10⁻⁶), miR-122 (FC × 8, p = 0.0031), miR-20 (FC × 5.6, p = 0.0223), miR-182 (FC × 4.83, p = 0.0008) and miR-191 (FC × 4, p = 1.61 × 10⁻⁶) were among these upregulated miRNAs. In silico prediction algorithms predicted that miRNAs upregulated in good-quality sperm targeted 910 genes involved in key biological functions of spermatozoa, such as cell death and survival, cellular movement, molecular transport, response to stimuli, metabolism, and the regulation of oxidative stress. Genes deregulated in bad-quality sperm were involved in cell growth and proliferation. Conclusions: This study reveals that miRNA profiling may provide potential biomarkers of sperm quality. Full article

The interplay between the cytokine network and antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of psychotropic medications on serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β1, IL-17, and BAFF, and to explore their relationship with psychopathological features. We recruited 63 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in the acute phase, all of whom were either drug-naïve or had been drug-free for at least three months. Serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, TGF-β1, IL-17, and BAFF were measured at baseline and after six months of antipsychotic treatment. The severity of symptoms was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Fifty-two patients completed the six-month follow-up for immunoassay analysis. Antipsychotic treatment led to a significant decrease in serum levels of IFN-γ, TGF-β1, and IL-17, alongside a significant increase in BAFF levels. Changes in IFN-γ were positively correlated with SANS scores and negatively correlated with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores. Changes in TGF-β1 were negatively correlated with GAF scores. Changes in BAFF were negatively correlated with SAPS scores. Multivariable regression models were used to explore the association between cytokine level changes (IL-17, BAFF, IFN-γ, and TGF-β1) and independent variables, including demographic (gender, age), behavioral (tobacco use), clinical (schizophrenia type, disease course, date of onset, prior treatment), and biological (C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)) factors, as well as standardized assessment scores. No significant associations were found, except for a significant negative correlation between TGF-β1 changes and GAF scores, as well as a positive correlation with age. Interestingly, advanced statistical analyses revealed that only changes in IL-17 and BAFF levels were significantly associated with antipsychotic treatment. Our findings suggest that antipsychotic drugs exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects on the cytokine network. The observed modulation of IL-17 and BAFF highlights their potential as future therapeutic targets in schizophrenia. Full article

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the oldest known useful plants, valued for thousands of years. This plant contains many biologically active compounds, including polyphenols, sterols, cysteine-sulfoxides, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids. The aim of our study was to compare the antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis induction properties of four garlic cultivars—Harnaś, Ornak, Violeta, and Morado—in human squamous carcinoma (SCC-15) cells, colon adenocarcinoma (CACO-2) cells, and normal fibroblasts (BJ). Additionally, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3A), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and catalase (CAT) after treatment with the studied garlic extracts. Our study demonstrated that high ROS production was correlated with the strong toxicity of the garlic extracts. All studied extracts produced a lesser increase in ROS in normal BJ fibroblasts and were less toxic to these cells. The expression patterns of PPARγ, LC3A, SOD1, and CAT, along with chromatographic analysis, suggest differing mechanisms among the garlic cultivars. The highest levels of catechin, a known PPARγ agonist, were detected in the Harnaś (3.892 µg/mL) and Ornak (3.189 µg/mL) cultivars. A high catechin content was correlated with similar changes in PPARγ and related SOD1 and LC3A. Our findings showed the health-promoting and anticancer properties of garlic. However, we could not definitively identify which polyphenol or how it is involved in PPARγ activation. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of PPARγ in the mechanism of action of garlic extracts. Full article

Amniotic fluid is a complex and dynamic biological matrix that surrounds the fetus during the pregnancy. From this fluid, is possible to isolate various cell types with particular interest directed towards stem cells (AF-SCs). These cells are highly appealing due to their numerous potential applications in the field of regenerative medicine for tissues and organs as well as for treating conditions such as traumatic or ischemic injuries to the nervous system, myocardial infarction, or cancer. AF-SCs, when subcultured in the presence of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), have been shown to survive and migrate when transplanted into the striatum of the rat brain, exhibiting behavior characteristics of neuronal/glial progenitor cells. In this work, we performed an electrophysiological characterization to ascertain the propensity of AF-SCs to differentiate into glial and neuronal cells by bFGF. By using patch clamp technique we characterized a fibroblast-like morphology that display a barium-sensitive inward-rectifying potassium current (Kir) and calcium-activated potassium currents (KCa). The electrophysiological and calcium dynamics of histamine, a marker of undifferentiated neural progenitors, was further studied. Histamine promoted intracellular calcium increase by Fura-2 recording and calcium-activated potassium current activation with a similar temporal profile in AF-SC. The data presented in this paper ultimately confirm the expression in AF-SCs of the Kir and KCa currents, also showing regulation by endogenous stimuli such as histamine for the latter. Full article

Amidst escalating global water scarcity challenges, addressing industrial and agricultural wastewater treatment has emerged as a critical concern within environmental conservation efforts. Wastewater desalination technology not only mitigates salt pollution’s impact on ecosystems but also facilitates sustainable water resource management with significant economic and ecological advantages. This study delves into fundamental principles, methodologies, and application prospects in wastewater desalination technology by conducting a comprehensive assessment encompassing physical, chemical, and biological treatment approaches while scrutinizing their practical applicability through analysis of respective merits and drawbacks. Furthermore, this study illuminates specific operational impacts associated with diverse desalinization techniques employed in industrial or agricultural contexts based on prior research findings. The findings underscore that judicious selection of suitable desalinization methods along with optimization of operational parameters are pivotal factors influencing improved rates of sustainable wastewater desalinization. Finally, this paper proposes future directions and research focuses for wastewater desalination technology to provide a reference for related fields. Full article

Microglia are exceptionally dynamic resident innate immune cells within the central nervous system, existing on a continuum of morphologies and functions throughout their lifespan. They play vital roles in response to injuries and infections, clearing cellular debris, and maintaining neural homeostasis throughout development. Emerging research suggests that microglia are strongly influenced by biological factors, including sex, developmental stage, and their local environment. This review synthesizes findings on sex differences in microglial morphology and function in key brain regions, including the frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, across the lifespan. Where available, we examine how gonadal hormones influence these microglial characteristics. Additionally, we highlight the limitations of relying solely on morphology to infer function and underscore the need for comprehensive, multimodal approaches to guide future research. Ultimately, this review aims to advance the dialogue on these spatiotemporally heterogeneous cells and their implications for sex differences in brain function and vulnerability to neurological and psychiatric disorders. Full article

Deer keds (Lipoptena spp. and Neolipoptena ferrisi) are hematophagous ectoparasites that primarily infest white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and other cervids in the United States. The distribution of deer keds in the northeastern United States and the pathogens they harbor remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we examined the geographical distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts by collecting samples from white-tailed deer and testing for tick-borne pathogens. Deer keds were collected across the state, including in four previously unrecorded counties, indicating a wide distribution. Pathogen screening revealed the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in 30% of the keds, but no other pathogens were detected. The medical and biological significance of detecting A. phagocytophilum DNA in deer keds requires future studies. This research provides a baseline for the distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts and highlights the potential of deer keds as sentinels for monitoring deer-associated microbes. Full article

Firefly luciferases have been extensively used for bioanalytical applications, including their use as bioluminescent reporters, biosensors, and for bioimaging biological and pathological processes. Due to their intrinsic pH- sensitivity, in recent years we have demonstrated that firefly luciferases can also be harnessed as color- tuning sensors of intracellular pH. However, it is known that mammalian cells require temperatures higher than 36 °C, which red-shift the bioluminescence spectra of most firefly luciferases, decreasing their activities and the resolution of ratiometric pH analysis. Therefore, we prospected and engineered novel pH-sensitive firefly luciferases for mammalian cells. We humanized the luciferases of Amydetes vivianii (Amy-Luc) and Cratomorphus distinctus (Crt-Luc) fireflies, inserted them into the pCDNA3 vector, and compared their bioluminescence and pH-sensing properties with those of Macrolampis firefly luciferase (Mac-Luc) inside fibroblasts. The transfected COS-1 with Mac-Luc and Crt-Luc displayed lower bioluminescence activity and considerably red-shifted spectra (611 and 564 nm, respectively) at 37 °C, whereas Amy-Luc displayed the highest bioluminescence activity and spectral stability at 37 °C inside cells, displaying the most blue-shifted spectrum at such temperatures (548 nm) and the best spectral resolution at different pH values, making it possible to ratiometrically estimate the pH from 6.0 to 8.0. These results show that Amy-Luc is a novel brighter reporter gene and suitable pH- indicator for mammalian cells. Furthermore, whereas at pH 8.0 the spectrum was thermally stable, at pH 6.0 Amy-Luc showed higher temperature sensitivity, raising the possibility of using this luciferase as an intracellular temperature sensor. Thus, the improved bioluminescence properties as compared to existing luciferases could offer advantages for in vivo imaging and pH- sensing for the study of mammalian cellular physiology. Full article

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of 10-hydroxy-10-(1H-indol-3-yl)-9-(10H)-phenanthrene derivatives was realized through an organocatalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction of phenanthrenequinones and indoles using a (S,S)-dimethylaminocyclohexyl-squaramide as the catalyst. Under the optimized conditions, the desired chiral products were obtained in good yields (73–90%) with moderate to high ee values (up to 97% ee). Two pairs of synthesized enantiomers were subjected to evaluation of their antiproliferative activities on four types of human cancer cell lines and one human umbilical vein endothelial cell line using the CCK-8 assay. The results indicated that stereoselectivity had obvious impacts on biological activity. (S)-4g was found to have optimal cytotoxicity against the A549 cell line and a good safety profile for human normal cells, which was better than the inhibitory activity of the positive control drug (doxorubicin). Full article

An adaptable, low-cost, and easy-to-operate biological treatment system for pollutant abatement in aquaculture water at the field pond scale needs to be developed. In this study, the pollutant removal capacity of a stable bioreactor for aquaculture wastewater was assessed, and the related mechanism was elucidated via an analysis of the microbial community’s characteristics and functions. The average removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were 40%, 86.22%, 38.62%, and 53.74%, respectively. The effluent quality meets the Requirement for Water Discharge from Freshwater Aquaculture Pond, SC/T9101-2007. The results indicate that the fillers under anaerobic conditions could attract Denitratisoma and unclassified_Rhodocyclaceae, promoting the denitrification reaction. This aligns with the characteristic that total nitrogen in aquaculture sewage mainly exists in the form of nitrate nitrogen. An anaerobic atmosphere helps degrade organic contaminants at liquid interfaces and remove nitrogen in the solid phase. The fillers under anaerobic conditions could attract Bacteroidota and promote the production of polysaccharides to form biofilms, which may be associated with phosphorus removal. The results indicate that the anaerobic stage can promote the formation of biofilm on the fillers to remove pollutants, thus achieving higher aquaculture sewage treatment efficiency. Full article