Exploring the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Eurasian Griffon Vultures () Under Rehabilitation in Portugal and Their Potential Role as Reservoirs of Human and Animal Pathogens.

The Eurasian griffon vulture (), a widely distributed scavenger, plays a crucial role in ecosystem health by consuming decomposing carcasses. Scavengers have adapted to avoid disease from the rotting carrion they feed on, probably through a specialized gut microbiome. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiome of (n = 8) present in two rehabilitation centers in mainland Portugal and evaluate their potential as reservoirs of pathogens.

Pimelodus maculatus abundance in the tailrace of the Machadinho hydroelectric power plant during drought conditions.

Fish presence in tailraces is a remarkable management concern in operating hydroelectric power plants (HPP) in Brazilian rivers. Fish get blocked during upstream migration for spawning, and large shoals can last for days in the tailrace; however, the circumstances that attract fish throughout the year to this region are uncertain, especially during drought conditions. To unravel this uncertainty, we modeled the relationship between Pimelodus maculatus abundance and environmental and operational variables (N = 26) in monthly fishing campaigns at the Machadinho HPP (N = 18).

A population study of Toxoplasma gondii in the Amazon region expands current knowledge of the genetic diversity in South America.

Previous studies have reported high diversity between and within populations of Toxoplasma gondii in South America. In the present study, isolates of T. gondii from chickens were obtained from the Amazon region.

Putting gluten back on menu - Safety assessment of polyphenol-rich wheat varieties in Celiac Disease.

This study provides a comprehensive proteomic and metabolomic analysis of novel anthocyanin- and carotenoid-rich wheat varieties to assess their immunogenicity in the context of Celiac Disease. Using (semi)-quantitative mass spectrometry, the research found that gliadin expression and peptide release, particularly those containing immunostimulatory γ-gliadin epitopes, vary significantly across different wheat varieties. While non-targeted mass spectrometry provided valuable insights, the study acknowledged potential methodological biases, such limitations of ion current intensity as a measure of peptide abundance.

Biochar supplementation affects the microbiome of recycled manure solids for cow bedding: a metagenomic analysis.

The widespread use of Recycled Manure Solids (RMS) as cow bedding material is not without risks, since cattle manure may act as a vehicle for pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria dissemination. Thus, our aim was to evaluate RMS-supplemented with a pine biochar produced in Portugal as a new cow bedding material, since the use of biochar has been shown to have the potential to mitigate the impact of relevant bacterial species when added to animal manure microbiota. Our experimental setup consisted on fresh RMS samples that were collected on a commercial dairy farm and placed in naturally-ventilated containers for a total of 4 groups: 1-non-supplemented RMS; 2-RMS supplemented with 2.