Microbial Primer: Microbiome and thermal tolerance - a new frontier in climate resilience?

Microbiome-animal host symbioses are ubiquitous in nature. Animal-associated microbiomes can play a crucial role in host physiology, health and resilience to environmental stressors. As climate change drives rising global temperatures and increases the frequency of thermal extremes, microbiomes are emerging as a new frontier in buffering vulnerable animals against temperature fluctuations.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics illuminate bat immunity and barrier tissue evolution.

Bats have adapted to pathogens through diverse mechanisms, including increased resistance - rapid pathogen elimination, and tolerance - limiting tissue damage following infection. In the Egyptian fruit bat (an important model in comparative immunology) several mechanisms conferring disease tolerance were discovered, but mechanisms underpinning resistance remain poorly understood. Previous studies on other species suggested that elevated basal expression of innate immune genes may lead to increased resistance to infection.

Comparison of the rhizospheric soil bacteriomes of Oryza sativa and Solanum melongena crop cultivars reveals key genes and pathways involved in biosynthesis of ectoine, lysine, and catechol meta-cleavage.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), Poaceae family, forms staple diet of half of world's population, and brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), an important solanaceous crop, are consumed worldwide.

Formulation and Evaluation of Lipid/Soluplus-Stabilized Nanocrystals of Paclitaxel and Bosutinib for a Synergistic Effect in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been employed for the treatment of lung cancer, owing to their role in regulating irregulated pathways or mutated genes. Bosutinib, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, has been recently investigated for lung cancer treatment. Bosutinib can also be used with paclitaxel as a combinatorial approach to receive a synergistic effect for the effective management of lung cancer.

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of the Methanolic Extract and Fractions of Datura stramonium in Paracetamol-intoxicated Rabbits.

Introduction: Datura stramonium (DS) possesses strong medicinal and therapeutic potential but has been rarely evaluated in this context.

Methods: The present study was intended to evaluate the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective potential of the crude methanolic leaf extract and ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane, and aqueous fractions of DS in paracetamol-intoxicated rabbits. Paracetamol (2 g/Kg BW) was applied to induce liver and kidney injury in rabbits while the methanolic extract and fractions of DS were applied in the dose range of 150 mg/Kg to 300 mg/Kg body weight for 21 days.

DNA methylation, histone acetylation in the regulation of memory and its modulation during aging.

Memory formation is associated with constant modifications of neuronal networks and synaptic plasticity gene expression in response to different environmental stimuli and experiences. Dysregulation of synaptic plasticity gene expression affects memory during aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Covalent modifications such as methylation on DNA and acetylation on histones regulate the transcription of synaptic plasticity genes.

Body size prediction in scorpions: a phylogenetic comparative examination of linear measurements of individual body parts.

Body size has always been the focus of several ecological studies due to its undeniable influence on other life-history traits. The conventional representation of body size in arthropods typically relies on linear measures, such as total body length, or the length of specific body parts that can be used to represent body size. While these measures offer simplicity over more complicated alternatives (.

Deep cryptic diversity in the Species Group (Anura: Craugastoridae) of Isthmian Central America revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear data.

The Species Group contains eleven species of terraranan frogs distributed from eastern Honduras to eastern Panama. All species have remarkable color pattern polymorphisms, which may contribute to potential taxonomic problems. We performed exhaustive sampling throughout the geographic distribution of the group to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of all named species based on two mitochondrial markers and nuclear ddRAD loci.

Exposure to lower temperature during early development decreases hypoxia tolerance in juvenile Fundulus heteroclitus.

Cross-protection occurs when exposure to one stressor confers heightened tolerance against a different stressor. Alternatively, exposure to one stressor could result in reduced tolerance against other stressors. Although cross-protection has been documented in a wide range of taxa at juvenile and adult life stages, whether early developmental exposure to a stressor confers cross-protection or reduced tolerance to other stressors later in life through developmental plasticity remains largely unexplored.

A Serum D-Fucose Binding Lectin With B Cell Mitogenic Activity From the Grub of the Darkling Beetle Zophobas morio.

Lectins that can recognize and bind to carbohydrates and glycoconjugates are at the epicentre of research owing to their prospective applications. In the present study, a D-fucose binding lectin from the serum of darkling beetle, Zophobas morio was purified and their mitogenic potential over human B-cells was evaluated. Biochemical assays on the preliminary characterization revealed the occurrence of single D-fucose binding lectin.

Small fish, large variation: Morphological diversity of Weberian apparatus in Noturus catfishes and ecological implications.

The Weberian apparatus is a hearing specialization unique to the otophysan fishes, and an unexpected degree of morphological variation exists in species of the Noturus catfishes. Our aim in this study is to investigate relationships between morphological variations and ecology that may drive this variation. Sampling 48 specimens representing 25 species, we investigated morphological diversity and accounted for ecological variables using landmark-based 3D geometric morphometrics and x-ray-based computed tomography (CT) images.

Effect of gamma dose rate on the public from soil samples collected from industrial areas of Tamil Nadu.

The present work is the first and foremost radiological study of soil samples collected from industrial estates in Tamil Nadu. The magnetic susceptibility measurement revealed that 74.19% of the samples have medium %χFD, which denotes a commixture of coarser grains or the SP grains with a size of <0.

UDA-seq: universal droplet microfluidics-based combinatorial indexing for massive-scale multimodal single-cell sequencing.

The use of single-cell combinatorial indexing sequencing via droplet microfluidics presents an attractive approach for balancing cost, scalability, robustness and accessibility. However, existing methods often require tailored protocols for individual modalities, limiting their automation potential and clinical applicability. To address this, we introduce UDA-seq, a universal workflow that integrates a post-indexing step to enhance throughput and systematically adapt existing droplet-based single-cell multimodal methods.

Long term study on blood glucose levels in wintering great tits Parus major in sites differing in artificial food availability.

Blood glucose concentration is one of the fundamental biochemical indices in the physiology of birds and other vertebrates. Since glucose serves as the main fuel for metabolic energy, its proper level in the blood serum is crucial to the individual in terms of physiological health, which leads to applying it as an ecophysiological indicator. Such an indicator may be especially useful during energetically demanding periods, such as winter at northern latitudes.

Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago.

The timing of the initial dispersal of hominins into Eurasia is unclear. Current evidence indicates hominins were present at Dmanisi, Georgia by 1.8 million years ago (Ma), but other ephemeral traces of hominins across Eurasia predate Dmanisi.

Functional leaf and plant use by leafcutter bees: Implications for management and conservation.

Wild solitary bees face a host of challenges from the simplification of landscapes and biodiversity loss to invasive species and urbanization. Pollinator researchers and restoration workers thus far gave much attention to increase flower cover to reduce the impact of these anthropogenic pressures. Over 30% of bee species need nonfloral resources such as leaves and resin for their survival and reproduction.

Ferulic acid protects rat offspring from maternal high-fat, high-fructose diet-induced toxicity and developmental retardation through a direct effect on pancreatic islets.

Maternal obesity predisposes offspring to type 2 diabetes (T2D) through a direct chronic effect of lipids on pancreatic β-cell neogenesis. β-cells produce FABP3 to bind and metabolize fatty acids. Ferulic acid (FA) is a natural product that may inhibit fatty acids' binding to FABP3, preventing their toxicity.

Combination of rTMS and oxytocin agonist attenuate depression-like behavior after postpartum depression in mice.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) categorizes postpartum depression (PPD) as a subtype of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with peripartum onset, generally arising within the initial trimester following delivery. This acute psychiatric condition is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, extreme anxiety, or maternal neglect. Intranasal oxytocin (OT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have the potential to address impaired social cognition; nonetheless, their neuronal underpinnings, along with their safety and efficacy, are little comprehended.

A framework towards implementation of sequencing for antimicrobial-resistant and other health-care-associated pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a growing threat globally, specifically in health-care settings in which antimicrobial-resistant pathogens cause a substantial proportion of health-care-associated infections (HAIs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the analysis of the data produced therein (ie, bioinformatics) represent an opportunity to enhance our capacity to address these threats. The 3rd Geneva Infection Prevention and Control Think Tank brought together experts to identify gaps, propose solutions, and set priorities for the use of NGS for HAIs and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

An overview of small-molecule agents for the treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a prevalent, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by abnormal skin plaques. To date, physical therapy, topical therapy, systemic therapy and biologic drugs are the most commonly employed strategies for treating psoriasis. Recently, many agents have advanced to clinical trials, and some anti-psoriasis drugs have been approved, including antibody drugs and small-molecule drugs.

Nanoparticle Interactions with the Blood Brain Barrier: Insights from Drosophila and Implications for Human Astrocyte Targeted Therapies.

This review explores the intricate connections between Drosophila models and the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) with nanoparticle-based approaches for neurological treatment. Drosophila serves as a powerful model organism due to its evolutionary conservation of key biological processes, particularly in the context of the BBB, which is formed by glial cells that share structural and functional similarities with mammalian endothelial cells. Recent advancements in nanoparticle technology have highlighted their potential for effective drug delivery across the BBB, utilizing mechanisms such as passive diffusion, receptor-mediated transcytosis, and carrier-mediated transport.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of a new hybrid bis-cyanoacrylamide-based-piperazine containing sulphamethoxazole moiety against rheumatoid arthritis-associated pathogens.

Piperazine-based compounds have garnered significant attention due to their notable biological and pharmacological activities, making them essential in fine chemical and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, we managed to synthesize a novel hybrid bis-cyanoacrylamide bearing the piperazine core via phenoxymethyl linker and incorporating sulphamethoxazole moiety. The novel compound was fully characterized using different spectral data including 1H-NMR, C-NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy.

Potential Degradation of Low- and High-Density Polyethylene Films by Ochrobactrum intermedium SA1 from Sewage Sludge.

Accumulation of plastic waste is an alarming environmental concern across globe. For which, microbial degradation offers an efficient ecofriendly solution. Thus, the present study focuses on the exploration of new bacterium that can grow on and utilize polyethylene.