Saffron's protective role against atherosclerosis-induced cataract progression in New Zealand white rabbits with phytochemical analysis of saffron's extract.

Cataracts are significant causes of blindness, closely linked to prolonged hypercholesterolemia. While saffron has the potential for eye health, its effects on lens lesions remain understudied. This study aimed to investigate the effect of saffron on the lens changes in atherosclerotic-induced New Zealand white rabbits (NZWR).

Data reuse in agricultural genomics research: challenges and recommendations.

The scientific community has long benefited from the opportunities provided by data reuse. Recognizing the need to identify the challenges and bottlenecks to reuse in the agricultural research community and propose solutions for them, the data reuse working group was started within the AgBioData consortium framework. Here, we identify the limitations of data standards, metadata deficiencies, data interoperability, data ownership, data availability, user skill level, resource availability, and equity issues, with a specific focus on agricultural genomics research.

Impact of Year and Genotype on Benzoxazinoids and Their Microbial Metabolites in the Rhizosphere of Early-Vigour Wheat Genotypes in Southern Australia.

Wheat () is grown on more arable acreage than any other food crop and has been well documented to produce allelochemicals. Wheat allelochemicals include numerous benzoxazinoids and their microbially transformed metabolites that actively suppress growth of weed seedlings. Production and subsequent release of these metabolites by commercial wheat cultivars, however, has not yet been targeted by focussed breeding programmes seeking to develop more competitive crops.

Differential Responses of Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas Species to Multispecies Interactions in the Phyllosphere.

The leaf surface, known as the phylloplane, presents an oligotrophic and heterogeneous environment due to its topography and uneven distribution of resources. Although it is a challenging environment, leaves support abundant bacterial communities that are spatially structured. However, the factors influencing these spatial distribution patterns are not well understood.

Proximate composition, peptide characterization and bioactive properties of faba bean blanching water.

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) offers a rich nutritional profile with high protein content and abundant vitamins and minerals. Processing of faba beans for freezing requires blanching, yielding liluva (legume processing water), possibly containing leached macronutrients, with potential for upcycling.

Consumer evaluations of commercially available plant-based cheddar cheese alternatives reveal inferior taste, nutrition and emotional appeal.

Many people in the Western world wish to reduce dietary reliance on animal-based and animal-derived foods. Plant-based (PB) meat and dairy alternatives can aid in this transition, but in the dairy category, only the milk market is well developed. Attention in the present research is, therefore, directed to PB cheese alternatives (PBCA), which were studied relative to dairy cheeses in a consumer taste test (central location setting) with 157 New Zealand (NZ) consumers conducted in 2023.

Bacillus velezensis A-27 as a potential biocontrol agent against Meloidogyne incognita and effects on rhizosphere communities of celery in field.

Meloidogyne incognita, a highly destructive plant-parasitic nematode, poses a significant threat to crop production. The reliance on chemical nematicides for nematode control has been crucial; however, the banning of many effective nematicides due to their adverse effects has necessitated the exploration of alternative solutions. Rhizosphere biocontrol bacteria, particularly strains of Bacillus, have demonstrated promising results in managing plant-parasitic nematodes.

Defining ortholog-specific UHRF1 inhibition by STELLA for cancer therapy.

UHRF1 maintains DNA methylation by recruiting DNA methyltransferases to chromatin. In mouse, these dynamics are potently antagonized by a natural UHRF1 inhibitory protein STELLA, while the comparable effects of its human ortholog are insufficiently characterized, especially in cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrate that human STELLA (hSTELLA) is inadequate, while mouse STELLA (mSTELLA) is fully proficient in inhibiting the abnormal DNA methylation and oncogenic functions of UHRF1 in human cancer cells.

Comparative analysis of qPCR and metagenomics for detecting antimicrobial resistance in wastewater: a case study.

Objective: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top threats to global public health. While AMR surveillance of human clinical isolates is well-established in many countries, the increasing threat of AMR has intensified efforts to detect antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) accurately and sensitively in environmental samples, wastewater, animals, and food. Using five ARGs and the 16S rRNA gene, we compared quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenomic sequencing (MGS), two commonly used methods to uncover the wastewater resistome.

Individual Responses to Repeated Dosing with Anthocyanin-Rich New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract During High-Intensity Intermittent Treadmill Running in Active Males.

Unlabelled: Intake of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract for 7 days has been shown to improve high-intensity intermittent running (HIIR) performance.

Objectives: We examined the repeat response of NZBC extract on HIIR performance.

Methods: Sixteen active males (age: 23 ± 3 yrs, height: 179 ± 5 cm, mass: 79 ± 11 kg, V˙O: 55.

Assessment of a Novel Stress and Immune Gene Panel on the Development of Australasian Snapper () Larvae.

Background: Larvae development is a critical step in aquaculture, yet the development of immune and stress responses during this early phase of life is not well understood. Snapper is a species that has been selected as a candidate for aquaculture in New Zealand.

Methods: In this study we explore a set of 18 genes identified as potentially being involved in the stress and immune responses of snapper larvae during the first 30 days of development.

Redox-induced phosphorus release from critical source areas following rainfall events in New Zealand.

Critical source areas (CSAs) can act as a source of phosphorus (P) during intermittent rainfall events and contribute to dissolved P loss via runoff. Dissolved forms of P are readily accessible for plant and algal uptake; hence it is a concern in terms of the eutrophication of freshwater bodies. The potential of CSAs to release dissolved P to surface runoff upon intermittent short-term submergence caused by different rainfall events has not been studied at a field-scale in New Zealand previously.

Survey of foodborne pathogenic Vibrio species in commercial Tasmanian bivalve shellfish and predictors of risk at harvest.

There has been an increase in foodborne vibriosis outbreaks globally, with Vibrio parahaemolyticus emerging as a foodborne issue in temperate commercial shellfish growing regions, including southern Australia. The food safety concerns associated with these microorganisms have led to the need for specific guidance on potential risk management strategies for their control. This is the first Australian multi-seasonal survey of V.

Modelling vitamin D fortification scenarios for the Australian population.

Background: Low vitamin D status (circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <50 nmol/L) is prevalent in Australia, and 95% of Australians have been estimated to have low vitamin D intake (mean range 1.8-3.2 μg/day).

Pan-phylum genomes of hornworts reveal conserved autosomes but dynamic accessory and sex chromosomes.

Hornworts, one of the three bryophyte phyla, show some of the deepest divergences in extant land plants, with some families separated by more than 300 million years. Previous hornwort genomes represented only one genus, limiting the ability to infer evolution within hornworts and their early land plant ancestors. Here we report ten new chromosome-scale genomes representing all hornwort families and most of the genera.

Novel Insights into Hg Oxidation in Rice Leaf: Catalase Functions and Transcriptome Responses.

Rice leaves can assimilate atmospheric mercury (Hg), which is accumulated by grains and causes health risks to rice consumers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Hg assimilation in rice leaves remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated catalase's (CAT) function in Hg oxidation within rice leaves, as well as the Hg speciation and transcriptomic profiles of rice leaves exposed to Hg.

Legume intakes on cardiometabolic profile and gut microbiome function: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Legumes are widely considered one of the most beneficial food groups to consume. They are high in fibre and plant-based protein as well as naturally low in sodium, saturated fats, and sugars. However, legumes do not feature prominently in the modern diet, and previous evidence syntheses show inconsistent results on cardiometabolic risk profile when increasing legume intakes.

Beverages developed from pseudocereals (quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth): Nutritional and functional properties.

The rising global demand for nutritious, sustainable, and plant-based beverages has catalyzed interest in pseudocereal-based products, offering an innovative alternative to traditional cereals. Pseudocereals such as quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth are valued for their exceptional nutritional profiles, including high-quality proteins, dietary fibers, and bioactive compounds. This review explores the development of pseudocereal-based beverages, emphasizing their potential as milk alternatives, fermented drinks, and beer products.

Decellularized Green and Brown Macroalgae as Cellulose Matrices for Tissue Engineering.

Scaffolds resembling the extracellular matrix (ECM) provide structural support for cells in the engineering of tissue constructs. Various material sources and fabrication techniques have been employed in scaffold production. Cellulose-based matrices are of interest due to their abundant supply, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and biological inertness.

Feed additives for methane mitigation: Recommendations for identification and selection of bioactive compounds to develop antimethanogenic feed additives.

Despite the increasing interest in developing antimethanogenic additives to reduce enteric methane (CH) emissions and the extensive research conducted over the last decades, the global livestock industry has a very limited number of antimethanogenic feed additives (AMFA) available that can deliver substantial reduction, and they have generally not reached the market yet. This work provides technical recommendations and guidelines for conducting tests intended to screen the potential to reduce, directly or indirectly, enteric CH of compounds before they can be further assessed in in vivo conditions. The steps involved in this work cover the discovery, isolation, and identification of compounds capable of affecting CH production by rumen microbes, followed by in vitro laboratory testing of potential candidates.

Effect of Moderate Red Meat Intake Compared With Plant-Based Meat Alternative on Psychological Well-Being: A 10-Wk Cluster Randomized Intervention in Healthy Young Adults.

Background: A healthy diet has been proposed to support good mental health, but the addition of either red meat or meat alternatives is nuanced.

Objectives: We aimed to determine if psychological and physiological well-being is differentially affected by consuming recommended weekly amounts of either lean red meat or plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) supplemented with a plant-rich diet.

Methods: The trial was a parallel 2-arm randomized intervention of 10 wk duration.

Productive, Reproductive, Behavioural, Gene Expression, Histological, and Economic Criteria of Feeding Fenugreek and Berseem Seeds as Alternative Protein Sources in New Zealand White Does Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus).

Feed cost represents about 70% of the total production costs of rabbit farms. There is little research on the usage of Berseem and Fenugreek seeds as substitutes for soybeans in rabbit diets. The current investigation was conducted to assess the influence of dietary inclusion of Fenugreek and/or Berseem seeds at varying levels as a substitute for soybean meal on reproductive performance, milk production, maternal behaviour, economic efficiency, mammary gland and ovarian histology, and relative expression of reproductive genes of New Zealand White rabbit does.

Unique bibenzyl cannabinoids in the liverwort Radula marginata: parallels with Cannabis chemistry.

The potential of cannabinoids to address public health challenges has stimulated exploration into alternative sources and production technologies. Radula marginata, an endemic Aotearoa/New Zealand liverwort, produces the bibenzyl cannabinoid perrottetinene (PET), analogous to Cannabis psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Structural differences between PET and THC could alter therapeutic interactions and mitigate adverse side effects.

Low-pass nanopore sequencing for measurement of global methylation levels in plants.

Nanopore sequencing enables detection of DNA methylation at the same time as identification of canonical sequence. A recent study validated low-pass nanopore sequencing to accurately estimate global methylation levels in vertebrates with sequencing coverage as low as 0.01x.