Enriched microbial consortia from natural environments reveal core groups of microbial taxa able to degrade terephthalate and terphthalamide.

Millions of tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are produced each year, however only ~30% of PET is currently recycled in the United States. Improvement of PET recycling and upcycling practices is an area of ongoing research. One method for PET upcycling is chemical depolymerization (through hydrolysis or aminolysis) into aromatic monomers and subsequent biodegradation.

Transcriptomic resources for Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), a widespread invasive pest of Brassicales.

The bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), is an emerging agricultural pest in the Americas, threatening agricultural production in the southwestern United States, Mexico and Chile, as well as in the Old World (including Africa, South Asia and, more recently, Mediterranean areas of Europe). Substantive transcriptomic sequence resources for this damaging species would be beneficial towards understanding its capacity for developing insecticide resistance, identifying viruses that may be present throughout its population and identifying genes differentially expressed across life stages that could be exploited for biomolecular pesticide formulations. This study establishes B.

Estuarine dispersal of an invasive Holarctic predator (Esox lucius) confirmed in North America.

The capacity for a non-native species to become invasive largely hinges on existing dispersal capacity or adaptation of dispersal in new environments. Here we provide early evidence that invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius), a Holarctic freshwater top predator, illegally introduced in the late 1950s into Southcentral Alaska, are now dispersing through estuarine corridors. This finding represents the first known documentation of estuary use and dispersal by Northern Pike in North America, exacerbating conservation concerns for already depressed populations of culturally and economically important species such as salmonids.

Allogenic faecal microbiota transplantation for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in critically ill patients (FEBATRICE)-Study protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (phase II).

Background: Exposure of critically ill patients to antibiotics lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which often manifests as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Faecal microbiota transplantation restores gut microbiota and may lead to faster resolution of diarrhoea.

Methods: Into this prospective, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial we will enrol 36 critically ill patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

Passive accumulation of alkaloids in inconspicuously colored frogs refines the evolutionary paradigm of acquired chemical defenses.

Understanding the origins of novel, complex phenotypes is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Poison frogs of the family Dendrobatidae have evolved the novel ability to acquire alkaloids from their diet for chemical defense at least three times. However, taxon sampling for alkaloids has been biased towards colorful species, without similar attention paid to inconspicuous ones that are often assumed to be undefended.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology: A Global Health Threat in Rural Agricultural Communities-Prevalence, Suspected Causes, Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) is a worldwide hidden health threat that is associated with progressive loss of kidney functions without showing any initial symptoms until reaching end-stage renal failure, eventually leading to death. It is a growing health problem in Asia, Central America, Africa, and the Middle East, with identified hotspots. CKDu disease mainly affects young men in rural farming communities, while its etiology is not related to hypertension, kidney stones, diabetes, or other known causes.

Impact of Babaco ( (Heilborn) Mabb.) Fruit Ripening Stages on Phytochemical Composition and Biological Properties.

This research article delves into Babaco fruit's-an Ecuadorian product with immense nutraceutical potential phytochemical composition and biological activity-in different maturation fruit stages. Bridging the gap between food and medicine, nutraceuticals offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Specifically, this study investigates Babaco's antioxidant and its phenolic and flavonoid content across different ripening stages: physiological maturity, organoleptic quality immaturity, and commercial maturity.

Essential Oils from and Their Metabolomic Profiling.

: Essential oils (EOs) have been exploited by humans for centuries, but many sources remain poorly investigated, mainly due to the low yields associated with conventional extraction. Recently, new techniques have been developed, like solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), able to enhance efficiency and sustainability. The use of L.

Molecular Mimicry Between Gut Microbiome and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Concepts.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents an autoimmune condition impacted by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with the gut microbiome (GMB) being one of the influential environmental factors. Patients with RA display notable modifications in the composition of their GMB, characterised by decreased diversity and distinct bacterial alterations. The GMB, comprising an extensive array of approximately 35,000 bacterial species residing within the gastrointestinal tract, has garnered considerable attention as a pivotal contributor to both human health and the pathogenesis of diseases.

Single but Not Combined In Vitro Exposure to Bisphenol A and Nanoplastics Affects the Cholinergic Function of the Ascidian .

Nanoplastics are known to represent a threat to marine ecosystems. Their combination with other contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) may amplify ecotoxic effects, with unknown impacts on marine biodiversity. This study investigates the effects, single and combined, of bisphenol A (BPA)-one of the most hazardous CECs-and polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs)-as a proxy for nanoplastics, being among the most commonly found asmarine debris-on cholinesterase (ChE) activities of the ascidian .

Contributions to the () Group in China: Taxonomy, Species Diversity, and Molecular Phylogeny.

is the largest genus in the family , with approximately 1000 species worldwide. Basic data on the species diversity, geographic distribution, and the infrageneric framework of are still incomplete because of the intricate nature of this genus, which includes numerous unrecognized taxa that exist around the world. A multigene phylogeny of the group, initially designated as the " subgroup", was conducted using the ITS-28S- nucleotide datasets.

New Species and Records Expand the Checklist of Cellular Slime Molds (Dictyostelids) in Jilin Province, China.

Dictyostelids represent a crucial element in the protist community, and their abundant presence in Jilin Province underscores their indispensable role in biodiversity conservation. In the present study, a resource survey of dictyostelids used random sampling to collect 28 soil samples from five localities in Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Jilin Province. In addition, a compilation of dictyostelid species reported from Jilin Province was developed, based on a thorough review of the literature.

Interaction of Liposomes Containing the Carrageenan/Echinochrome Complex with Human HaCaT Keratinocytes In Vitro.

Liposomal drug delivery systems are successfully used in various fields of medicine for external and systemic applications. Marine organisms contain biologically active substances that have a unique structure and exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Polysaccharide of red seaweed (carrageenan (CRG)), and water-insoluble sea urchin pigment (echinochrome (Ech)) interact with each other and form a stable complex.

Abiotic Factors Modulating Metabolite Composition in Brown Algae (Phaeophyceae): Ecological Impacts and Opportunities for Bioprospecting of Bioactive Compounds.

Brown algae are vital structural elements and contributors to biodiversity in marine ecosystems. These organisms adapt to various environmental challenges by producing primary and secondary metabolites crucial for their survival, defense, and resilience. Besides their ecological role, these diverse metabolites have potential for biotechnological applications in industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food.

Exploring sp. M21F004 for Biocontrol of Bacterial and Fungal Phytopathogens.

This study explores the biocontrol potential of sp. M21F004, a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from marine environments, against several bacterial and fungal phytopathogens. Out of 50 marine bacterial isolates, sp.

Discovery and Characterization of an Atypical Crustin Antimicrobial Peptide from .

Crustins are a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that play a pivotal role in the innate immune system of crustaceans. The discovery of novel AMPs from natural sources is crucial for expanding our current database of these peptides. Here, we identified and characterized a novel member of the crustin family, named Crus-SWD1, derived from .

Reverse Mutations in Pigmentation Induced by Sodium Azide in the IR64 Rice Variety.

Pigmentation in rice is due mainly to the accumulation of anthocyanins. Five color mutant lines, AZ1701, AZ1702, AZ1711, AZ1714, and AZ1715, derived from the sodium azide mutagenesis on the non-pigmented IR64 variety, were applied to study inheritance modes and genes for pigmentation. The mutant line AZ1711, when crossed with IR64, displays pigmentation in various tissues, exhibiting a 3:1 pigmented to non-pigmented ratio in the F progeny, indicating a single dominant locus controlling pigmentation.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

Wildlife trade investigations benefit from multivariate stable isotope analyses.

The investigation of wildlife trade and crime has benefitted from advances in technology and scientific development in a variety of fields. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) represents one rapidly developing approach that has considerable potential to contribute to wildlife trade investigation, especially in complementing other methods including morphological, genetic, and elemental approaches. Here, we review recent progress in the application of SIA in wildlife trade research to highlight strengths, shortcomings, and areas for development in the future.

Fire and seed dormancy: A global meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Fire-released seed dormancy (SD) is a key trait for successful germination and plant persistence in many fire-prone ecosystems. Many local studies have shown that fire-released SD depends on heat and exposure time, dose of smoke-derived compounds, SD class, plant lineage and the fire regime. However, a global quantitative analysis of fire-released SD is lacking.

Breastfeeding and infant gut microbiota: influence of bioactive components.

Establishment of the gut microbiota during infancy is critical for host health with long-lasting implications. In this orchestrated process, microbial assembly is influenced by an increasing number of genetic and environmental factors, among which breastfeeding is considered as one of the most significant drivers for infant gut microbiota development. As the optimal diet for the infants, maternal milk provides numerous nutritional, microbial, and bioactive components to ensure the most adequate microbial growth and development of a 'healthy' gut microbiota during early life.

Endophytic fungi: nature's solution for antimicrobial resistance and sustainable agriculture.

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has underlined the need for a sustained supply of novel antimicrobial agents. Endophyte microorganism that reside within plant tissues as symbionts have been the source of potential antimicrobial substances. However, many novel and potent antimicrobials are yet to be discovered from these endophytes.

Corrigendum to "Frankincense: A neuronutrient to approach Parkinson's disease treatment".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1515/med-2024-0988.].

Gestational diabetes-combined excess weight gain exacerbates gut microbiota dysbiosis in newborns, associated with reduced abundance of , , and .

Background: Existing literature indicates that Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and maternal obesity disrupt the normal colonization of the neonatal gut microbiota alone. Still, the combined impact of GDM and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) on this process remains under explored. The association between gestational weight gain before/after GDM diagnosis and neonatal gut microbiota characteristics is also unclear.

Impact of storage and extraction methods on peat soil microbiomes.

Recovered microbial community structure is known to be influenced by sample storage conditions and nucleic acid extraction methods, and the impact varies by sample type. Peat soils store a large portion of soil carbon and their microbiomes mediate climate feedbacks. Here, we tested three storage conditions and five extraction protocols on peat soils from three physicochemically distinct habitats in Stordalen Mire, Sweden, revealing significant methodological impacts on microbial (here, meaning bacteria and archaea) community structure.