Seasonal Variations in the Structure and Function of the Gut Flora in Adult Male Rhesus Macaques Reared in Outdoor Colonies.

The seasonal variations that occur in the gut microbiota of healthy adult rhesus monkeys kept in outdoor groups under conventional rearing patterns and how these variations are affected by environmental variables are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we collected 120 fecal samples from 30 adult male rhesus monkeys kept in outdoor groups across four seasons and recorded the temperature and humidity of the housing facilities, as well as the proportions of fruit and vegetables in their diet. A 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota of the rhesus monkeys was higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn.

Autonomous Defense Based on Biogenic Nanoparticle Formation in Daunomycin-Producing .

Daunomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for the treatment of leukemia, but its toxicity toward healthy dividing cells limits its clinical use and its production by fermentation. Herein, we describe the development of a specialized cultivation medium for daunomycin production, including a shift to oil rather than sugar as the primary carbon source. This achieved an almost threefold increase in daunomycin yields, reaching 5.

Suppression of Nodule Formation by RNAi Knock-Down of in .

Background/objectives: The balanced regulation of innate immunity plays essential roles in rhizobial infection and the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. The evolutionarily conserved cell death suppressor Bax inhibitor-1 plays dual roles in nodule symbiosis, providing a valuable clue in balancing immunity and symbiosis, while it remains largely unexplored in the legume .

Methods/results: In the present report, the gene family of was identified and characterized.

Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China.

The genus Mittleman, 1950, belonging to the family Scincidae, exhibits considerable morphological convergence, complicating species delimitation and resulting in underestimated diversity. Currently, 41 species are formally recognized in this genus, although this figure likely underestimates its true richness. In this study, a new species of the genus , , is described from urban and suburban areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China.

MicroRNAs Expression Profile in MN1-Altered Astroblastoma.

Background/objectives: Astroblastoma is a rare glial neoplasm more frequent in young female patients, with unclear clinical behaviors and outcomes. The diagnostic molecular alteration is a rearrangement of the Meningioma 1 () gene. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene expression regulators with strong implications in biological processes.

Morphological, Physiological, and Transcriptional Changes in L. Under In Vitro Polyethylene Glycol-Induced Water Stress.

Saffron ( L.), a perennial geophyte from the Iridaceae family, blooms in autumn and thrives in Mediterranean-like climates. It is highly valued for its therapeutic and commercial uses.

The Role of Aquaculture in Shaping the Morphology of : A Comparative Study of Cultured and Wild Populations.

Background: With the rapid expansion of aquaculture, the impact of rearing environments on the morphological characteristics of marine species has become a critical research focus. This study investigates the morphological differences between wild and cultured populations of , a commercially valuable marine mollusk, to understand how aquaculture environments influence morphological traits.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the morphological variance between wild and cultured populations using multivariate statistical techniques and to analyze the ecological implications of these differences.

Anti-Inflammatory and Prebiotic Potential of Ethanol Extracts and Mucilage Polysaccharides from Korean Yams ( and ).

Korean yams are abundant in bioactive compounds with significant health-promoting properties. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol and water extracts from and in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Free radicals and their impact on health and antioxidant defenses: a review.

Free radicals, characterized by the presence of unpaired electrons, are highly reactive species that play a significant role in human health. These molecules can be generated through various endogenous processes, such as mitochondrial respiration and immune cell activation, as well as exogenous sources, including radiation, pollution, and smoking. While free radicals are essential for certain physiological processes, such as cell signaling and immune defense, their overproduction can disrupt the delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants, leading to oxidative stress.

Development of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides Based on Genomic Analysis of Streptococcus salivarius.

Background: In the oral environment, the production of bacteriocins or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by impeding the proliferation of closely related microorganisms. This study aims to conduct in silico genome screening of Streptococcus salivarius to identify potential antimicrobial compounds existing as hypothetical peptides, with the goal of developing novel synthetic antimicrobial peptides.

Methods: Draft genomes of various oral Streptococcus salivarius strains were obtained from the NCBI database and subjected to analysis using bioinformatic tools, viz.

Investigating Past, Present, and Future Trends on Interface Between Marine and Medical Research and Development: A Bibliometric Review.

The convergence of marine sciences and medical studies has the potential for substantial advances in healthcare. This study uses bibliometric and topic modeling studies to map the progression of research themes from 2000 to 2023, with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary subject of marine and medical sciences. Building on the global publication output at the interface between marine and medical sciences and using the Hierarchical Dirichlet Process, we discovered dominating research topics during three periods, emphasizing shifts in research focus and development trends.

Kombucha Versus Vegetal Cellulose for Affordable Mucoadhesive (nano)Formulations.

Cellulose nanofibers gained increasing interest in the production of medical devices such as mucoadhesive nanohydrogels due to their ability to retain moisture (high hydrophilicity), flexibility, superior porosity and durability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. In this work, we aimed to compare the suitability of selected bacterial and vegetal nanocellulose to form hydrogels for biomedical applications. The vegetal and bacterial cellulose nanofibers were synthesized from brewer's spent grains (BSG) and kombucha membranes, respectively.

New Insights into the Quality Control Strategies of Inula racemosa Hook. F. (Pushkarmula) and Saussurea lappa Decne. (Kuth): Medicinal Crops of Alpine Himalaya.

Adulteration and illegal trade of Saussurea lappa in the name of Inula racemosa is a major issue. Therefore, accurate and easy methods are required to control malpractice and define authenticity. The current study is focused on authenticating and defining quality control methods for I.

A multifunctional photothermal electrospun PLGA/MoS@Pd nanofiber membrane for diabetic wound healing.

Injury caused by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to susceptibility to bacterial infection and sustained inflammatory response, which are the major factors impeding diabetic wound healing. By utilizing optimal anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial biomaterials for multifunctional wound dressings is critical in clinical applications. In this study, a novel electrospun PLGA/MoS@Pd nanofiber membrane was synthesized by encapsulating antioxidant and near-infrared (NIR) responsive MOS@Pd nanozymes in PLGA nanofibers to form a multifunctional dressing for diabetic wound repair.

Unearthing novel and multifunctional peptides in peptidome of fermented chhurpi cheese of Indian Himalayan region.

Fermented foods of the Indian Himalaya are unexplored functional resources with high nutritional potential. Chhurpi cheese, fermented by defined native proteolytic lactic acid bacteria of Sikkim was assessed for ACE inhibitory, HOCl reducing, and MPO inhibitory, activity across varying stages of gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. The enhanced bioactivity of Lactobacillus delbrueckii WS4 chhurpi was associated with the generation of bioactive and multifunctional peptides during fermentation and GI digestion.

Cellulose nanocrystal-based synthetic biodegradable biopolymeric composites: A comprehensive review on recent progress.

With the worldwide transformation to a circular and low-carbon economy, the demand for sustainable materials has skyrocketed in recent years. Of various methods, sustainable and biodegradable biopolymers derived from renewable bioresources have received significant interest. Synthetic biodegradable biopolymers offer tremendous advantages over natural biodegradable biopolymers due to their stability, flexibility, and a wide range of achievable properties to fit several applications.

Unelongated Stems are an Active Nitrogen-Fixing Site in Rice Stems Supported by Both Sugar and Methane Under Low Nitrogen Conditions.

Enhancing nitrogen (N) fixation in rice plants can reduce N fertilizer application and contribute to sustainable rice production, particularly under low-N conditions. However, detailed microbial and metabolic characterization of N fixation in rice stems, unlike in the well-studied roots, has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the active N-fixing sites, their diazotroph communities, and the usability of possible carbon sources in stems compared with roots.

Bio-Inspired Highly Stretchable and Ultrafast Autonomous Self-Healing Supramolecular Hydrogel for Multifunctional Durable Self-Powered Wearable Devices.

As skin bioelectronics advances, hydrogel wearable devices have broadened perspectives in environment sensing and health monitoring. However, their application is severely hampered by poor mechanical and self-healing properties, environmental sensitivity, and limited sensory functions. Herein, inspired by the hierarchical structure and unique cross-linking mechanism of hagfish slime, a self-powered supramolecular hydrogel is hereby reported, featuring high stretchability (>2800% strain), ultrafast autonomous self-healing capabilities (electrical healing time: 0.

A cost-effective oligo-based barcode system for chromosome identification in longan and lychee.

Oligonucleotide (Oligo)-based fluorescence hybridization (FISH) represents a highly effective methodology for identifying plant chromosomes. Longan is a commercially significant fruit species, yet lacking basic chromosomal markers has hindered its cytogenetic research. In this study, we developed a cost-effective oligo-based system for distinguishing chromosomes of longan ( Lour.

Effects of Blue Light on Fruiting Body Production and Ergothioneine Content During Sawdust Cultivation of Shiitake ().

The cultivation period of shiitake () is approximately 120-150 d, which is longer than that of other edible mushrooms. The development of fruiting bodies in shiitake is affected by light exposure. In this study, we investigated the effects of blue light on the production and ergothioneine contents of shiitake mushrooms.

Enhanced analysis of cellulose nanofibril film structure.

Structural analysis of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films remains challenging due to the stochastic assembly of fibres and presence of nanopores. This limits our ability to link the film structures to their properties, restricting their commercial use. While X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is a powerful technique to map the structure of traditional and commercial paper, there has been limited success in its application for CNF films due to the poor contrast between pores and material, making the reconstructed images difficult to segment and analyse.

Impact of Heterosigma akashiwo on the environmental behavior of microplastics: Aggregation, sinking, and resuspension dynamics.

Aggregation processes of microalgae have significant effects on the vertical distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment. This study explored how the harmful microalga Heterosigma akashiwo affects the aggregation and sinking characteristics of four types of MPs: low and high-density polyethylene (PE) spheres, and small and large polypropylene (PP) fragments. The aggregation of MPs was primarily driven by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) rather than direct attachment to the cells, contributing to their sinking.

De novo biosynthesis of quercetin in Yarrowia Lipolytica through systematic metabolic engineering for enhanced yield.

Kaempferol and quercetin possess various biological activities, making them valuable in food and medicine. However, their production via traditional methods is often inefficient. This study aims to address this gap by engineering the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to achieve high yields of these flavonoids.

Past and future of cytoplasmic male sterility and heterosis breeding in crop plants.

Plant breeding needs to embrace genetic innovations to ensure stability in crop yields under fluctuating climatic conditions. Development of commercial hybrid varieties has proven to be a sustainable and economical alternative to deliver superior yield, quality and resistance with uniformity in a number of food crops. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), a maternally inherited inability to produce functional pollen, facilitates a three-line system for efficient hybrid seed production strategies in crops.