Pub Date : 2025-02-17eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2025.2466017
Chris Fields, Michael Levin
We argue here that the Origin of Life (OOL) problem is not just a chemistry problem but is also, and primarily, a cognitive science problem. When interpreted through the lens of the Conway-Kochen theorem and the Free Energy Principle, contemporary physics characterizes all complex dynamical systems that persist through time as Bayesian agents. If all persistent systems are to some - perhaps only minimal - extent cognitive, are all persistent systems to some extent alive, or are living systems only a subset of cognitive systems? We argue that no bright line can be drawn, and we re-assess, from this perspective, the Fermi paradox and the Drake equation. We conclude that improving our abilities to recognize and communicate with diverse intelligences in diverse embodiments, whether based on familiar biochemistry or not, will either resolve or obviate the OOL problem.
{"title":"Life, its origin, and its distribution: a perspective from the Conway-Kochen Theorem and the Free Energy Principle.","authors":"Chris Fields, Michael Levin","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2466017","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2466017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We argue here that the Origin of Life (OOL) problem is not just a chemistry problem but is also, and primarily, a cognitive science problem. When interpreted through the lens of the Conway-Kochen theorem and the Free Energy Principle, contemporary physics characterizes all complex dynamical systems that persist through time as Bayesian agents. If all persistent systems are to some - perhaps only minimal - extent cognitive, are all persistent systems to some extent alive, or are living systems only a subset of cognitive systems? We argue that no bright line can be drawn, and we re-assess, from this perspective, the Fermi paradox and the Drake equation. We conclude that improving our abilities to recognize and communicate with diverse intelligences in diverse embodiments, whether based on familiar biochemistry or not, will either resolve or obviate the OOL problem.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"18 1","pages":"2466017"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11834426/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2025.2463926
Sibin Mathew Nesin, Mathew Chandrankunnel
The individualistic and collectivistic intelligent behaviors observed in mammals, birds, and fishes have been appreciated by many scientists in recent years and supported by the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in 2012. Behavioral studies in lower organisms like arthropods and cephalopods showed the presence of multisensory integration, decision-making, and goal-directed behavior in these non-vertebrate animals. The presence of intelligent and history-dependent behaviors has been studied in microorganisms, and recent studies propose the possibility of cognition in single cellular organisms. The Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC), proposed by Arthur Reber in 2016 and elaborated by Baluška and Reber in 2019, suggests the possibility of consciousness in single cellular organisms. However, the critics of the Cellular Basis of Consciousness theory state that the individual bacterial cell does not make choices, and the decision-making is the result of stochastic differences in protein levels. Here, we want to address the criticism of decision-making in bacteria. An attempt is made to give a new perspective to the existing model to explain the flexibility in bacterial behavior in an ever-changing environment. The authors would like to consider an alternative perspective on flexibility in decision-making as the result of multiple pathways that have convergence and divergence as observed in the brain. Flexibility provides the possibility to have individualistic behavior, and the existence of such pathways can be considered as the molecular mechanism underlying individualistic decision-making in bacteria as well as in humans.
{"title":"The need for a new perspective on decision-making in bacteria.","authors":"Sibin Mathew Nesin, Mathew Chandrankunnel","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2463926","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2463926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The individualistic and collectivistic intelligent behaviors observed in mammals, birds, and fishes have been appreciated by many scientists in recent years and supported by the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in 2012. Behavioral studies in lower organisms like arthropods and cephalopods showed the presence of multisensory integration, decision-making, and goal-directed behavior in these non-vertebrate animals. The presence of intelligent and history-dependent behaviors has been studied in microorganisms, and recent studies propose the possibility of cognition in single cellular organisms. The Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC), proposed by Arthur Reber in 2016 and elaborated by Baluška and Reber in 2019, suggests the possibility of consciousness in single cellular organisms. However, the critics of the Cellular Basis of Consciousness theory state that the individual bacterial cell does not make choices, and the decision-making is the result of stochastic differences in protein levels. Here, we want to address the criticism of decision-making in bacteria. An attempt is made to give a new perspective to the existing model to explain the flexibility in bacterial behavior in an ever-changing environment. The authors would like to consider an alternative perspective on flexibility in decision-making as the result of multiple pathways that have convergence and divergence as observed in the brain. Flexibility provides the possibility to have individualistic behavior, and the existence of such pathways can be considered as the molecular mechanism underlying individualistic decision-making in bacteria as well as in humans.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"18 1","pages":"2463926"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11834444/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-31eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2025.2458872
Min Jeong Kim, Jeong Ho Chang
Polyamines play crucial roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation, immune response modulation, and signal transduction. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) initiates polyamine biosynthesis by catalyzing the conversion of ornithine to putrescine in a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent manner. While the structures of mammalian and protozoan ODCs have been elucidated, fungal ODCs remain uncharacterized. In this study, AlphaFold2 was employed to simulate the structures of ODCs from four fungi: Kluyveromyces lactis, Candida albicans, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The results indicated that, although these ODCs share α/β-barrel and β-sheet domains, their active site conformations exhibit subtle differences. Additionally, substrate selectivity among ODCs and related decarboxylases varied depending on the distance between the Cα of aspartate or glutamate residues within the specificity helix and the C4α of PLP. Notably, the bacterial Campylobacter jejuni decarboxylase (CjCANSDC), which binds the largest substrate, exhibits the longest distance, whereas fungal ODC, which binds the smallest substrate, displays the shortest distance. Furthermore, significant differences in the composition of amino acid residues within the active sites were also observed. This study provides insights into the structural diversity and catalytic activity of ODCs across a broad range of organisms, advancing the understanding of structure-dependent evolutionary processes.
{"title":"Structure simulation-based comparison of active site variations in fungal ornithine decarboxylases.","authors":"Min Jeong Kim, Jeong Ho Chang","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2458872","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2025.2458872","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyamines play crucial roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation and differentiation, immune response modulation, and signal transduction. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) initiates polyamine biosynthesis by catalyzing the conversion of ornithine to putrescine in a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent manner. While the structures of mammalian and protozoan ODCs have been elucidated, fungal ODCs remain uncharacterized. In this study, AlphaFold2 was employed to simulate the structures of ODCs from four fungi: <i>Kluyveromyces lactis</i>, <i>Candida albicans</i>, <i>Debaryomyces hansenii</i>, and <i>Schizosaccharomyces pombe</i>. The results indicated that, although these ODCs share α/β-barrel and β-sheet domains, their active site conformations exhibit subtle differences. Additionally, substrate selectivity among ODCs and related decarboxylases varied depending on the distance between the Cα of aspartate or glutamate residues within the specificity helix and the C4α of PLP. Notably, the bacterial <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> decarboxylase (<i>Cj</i>CANSDC), which binds the largest substrate, exhibits the longest distance, whereas fungal ODC, which binds the smallest substrate, displays the shortest distance. Furthermore, significant differences in the composition of amino acid residues within the active sites were also observed. This study provides insights into the structural diversity and catalytic activity of ODCs across a broad range of organisms, advancing the understanding of structure-dependent evolutionary processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"18 1","pages":"2458872"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11792860/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143190646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We isolated endophytic Fusarium strains from the healthy roots, stems, and leaves of Dendrobium moschatum to investigate their plant growth-promoting activities in vitro. Subsequently, Indole acetic acid (IAA) was quantified and the IaaM gene (responsible for IAA synthesis in fungi) was amplified and sequenced. Finally, a germination assay was performed with seeds of D. moschatum and a plant growth assay with protocorms of Dendrobium longicornu to test their plant growth-promoting activities. Five Fusarium isolates (CDS11, PDL1, PDL3, PDR6, PDR7) were identified in this study. The highest amount (60µgml-1) of indole acetic acid was recorded in the PDR7 extract, whereas it was not detected in PDR6 and CDS11. The fungal extracts of isolates PDR6 and PDR7 were highly effective for seed germination by approximately 80% and 90% (respectively) of the host plant. The fungal extract of PDR7 showed a high IAA content and promoted in vitro seed germination of the host (D. moschatum) and protocorm development of the non-host (D. longicornu). In contrast, IAA content in the fungal extract of PDR6 remained undetected but was effective in both seed germination and protocorm development. Our results demonstrated the potential beneficial application of endophytic Fusarium in orchid mass propagation.
{"title":"Extract from endophytic <i>Fusarium</i> isolates stimulates seed germination of the host and protocorm development of non-host orchids.","authors":"Sujit Shah, Mukti Ram Paudel, Bir Bahadur Thapa, Harshita Sharma, Arun Kumar Kashyap, Bhagwan Narayan Rekadwad, Rohit Sharma, Jyotsna Sharma, Bijaya Pant","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2439798","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2439798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We isolated endophytic <i>Fusarium</i> strains from the healthy roots, stems, and leaves of <i>Dendrobium moschatum</i> to investigate their plant growth-promoting activities in vitro. Subsequently, Indole acetic acid (IAA) was quantified and the <i>IaaM</i> gene (responsible for IAA synthesis in fungi) was amplified and sequenced. Finally, a germination assay was performed with seeds of <i>D. moschatum</i> and a plant growth assay with protocorms of <i>Dendrobium longicornu</i> to test their plant growth-promoting activities. Five <i>Fusarium</i> isolates (CDS11, PDL1, PDL3, PDR6, PDR7) were identified in this study. The highest amount (60µgml<sup>-1</sup>) of indole acetic acid was recorded in the PDR7 extract, whereas it was not detected in PDR6 and CDS11. The fungal extracts of isolates PDR6 and PDR7 were highly effective for seed germination by approximately 80% and 90% (respectively) of the host plant. The fungal extract of PDR7 showed a high IAA content and promoted in vitro seed germination of the host (<i>D. moschatum</i>) and protocorm development of the non-host (<i>D. longicornu</i>). In contrast, IAA content in the fungal extract of PDR6 remained undetected but was effective in both seed germination and protocorm development. Our results demonstrated the potential beneficial application of endophytic <i>Fusarium</i> in orchid mass propagation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"18 1","pages":"2439798"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11654709/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142865410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-17eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2415598
Sunny Cui, Esther Kim
Quorum sensing (QS) is a critical bacterial communication system regulating behaviors like biofilm formation, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. This review highlights QS's role in polymicrobial infections, where bacterial species interactions enhance antibiotic resistance. We examine QS mechanisms, such as acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in Gram-negative bacteria and autoinducing peptides (AIPs) in Gram-positive bacteria, and their impact on biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. The challenges uniquely associated with polymicrobial infections, such as those found in cystic fibrosis lung infections, chronic wound infections, and medical device infections, are also summarized. Furthermore, we explore various laboratory models, including flow cells and dual-species culture models, used to study QS interactions in polymicrobial environments. The review also discusses promising quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), such as furanones and AHL analogs, which have demonstrated efficacy in reducing biofilm formation and virulence in laboratory and clinical studies. By addressing the interplay between QS and antibiotic resistance, this paper aims to advance therapeutic strategies that disrupt bacterial communication and improve antibiotic efficacy, ultimately mitigating the global challenge of antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial infections.
{"title":"Quorum sensing and antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial infections.","authors":"Sunny Cui, Esther Kim","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2415598","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2415598","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quorum sensing (QS) is a critical bacterial communication system regulating behaviors like biofilm formation, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. This review highlights QS's role in polymicrobial infections, where bacterial species interactions enhance antibiotic resistance. We examine QS mechanisms, such as acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in Gram-negative bacteria and autoinducing peptides (AIPs) in Gram-positive bacteria, and their impact on biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. The challenges uniquely associated with polymicrobial infections, such as those found in cystic fibrosis lung infections, chronic wound infections, and medical device infections, are also summarized. Furthermore, we explore various laboratory models, including flow cells and dual-species culture models, used to study QS interactions in polymicrobial environments. The review also discusses promising quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), such as furanones and AHL analogs, which have demonstrated efficacy in reducing biofilm formation and virulence in laboratory and clinical studies. By addressing the interplay between QS and antibiotic resistance, this paper aims to advance therapeutic strategies that disrupt bacterial communication and improve antibiotic efficacy, ultimately mitigating the global challenge of antibiotic resistance in polymicrobial infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2415598"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11487952/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142477014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-26eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2406754
Eman A Swedan, Kholoud Shible, Yassin M Yassin, Aleksandra Glowacka, Mohamed A A Ahmed
The bird of paradise plant is a clumping tropical species native to South Africa. It is a dramatic plant with distinctive iridescent orange and midnight blue flowers that resemble an exotic bird peeking out from the broad leaves in autumn, winter and spring. An experiment was conducted during the two seasons of 2021 and 2022 at a private farm in Damanhour, Beheira Governorate, Egypt (31"°" 04 "°"N, 30"°" 47' °E) to study the effect different concentrations of nano-potassium and chitosan and their combinations on the bird of Paradise (Sterlitiza reginae). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block in a split-plot design with five replicates; nano-potassium was used at 0, 100, 150, and 200 mg/l and assigned to the main plots, whereas the sub-plots involved 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/l of chitosan. An increase in plant height and leaf length was recorded when the plants were treated with 200 mg/l nano-potassium and 0.75 g/l chitosan. Spraying plants with concentrations of 150 mg/l nano-potassium and 0.75 g/l chitosan is associated with the superiority of S. reginae plants in other traits, such as leaves wide, number of leaves/plant, days to flowering, number of inflorescence/plant, number of florets/inflorescence, stalk length and diameter, inflorescence weight, longevity of inflorescence, and flowering period, compared to the other treatments. We conclude that adding nano-potassium and/or chitosan to the bird of paradise plant leads to an improvement in terms of vegetative and yield characteristics under newly reclaimed lands.
{"title":"Synergistic effect of nano-potassium and chitosan as stimulants inducing growth and yield of bird of paradise (<i>Sterlitiza reginae</i> L.) in newly lands.","authors":"Eman A Swedan, Kholoud Shible, Yassin M Yassin, Aleksandra Glowacka, Mohamed A A Ahmed","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2406754","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2406754","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The bird of paradise plant is a clumping tropical species native to South Africa. It is a dramatic plant with distinctive iridescent orange and midnight blue flowers that resemble an exotic bird peeking out from the broad leaves in autumn, winter and spring. An experiment was conducted during the two seasons of 2021 and 2022 at a private farm in Damanhour, Beheira Governorate, Egypt (31\"°\" 04 \"°\"N, 30\"°\" 47' °E) to study the effect different concentrations of nano-potassium and chitosan and their combinations on the bird of Paradise (<i>Sterlitiza reginae</i>). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block in a split-plot design with five replicates; nano-potassium was used at 0, 100, 150, and 200 mg/l and assigned to the main plots, whereas the sub-plots involved 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/l of chitosan. An increase in plant height and leaf length was recorded when the plants were treated with 200 mg/l nano-potassium and 0.75 g/l chitosan. Spraying plants with concentrations of 150 mg/l nano-potassium and 0.75 g/l chitosan is associated with the superiority of <i>S. reginae</i> plants in other traits, such as leaves wide, number of leaves/plant, days to flowering, number of inflorescence/plant, number of florets/inflorescence, stalk length and diameter, inflorescence weight, longevity of inflorescence, and flowering period, compared to the other treatments. We conclude that adding nano-potassium and/or chitosan to the bird of paradise plant leads to an improvement in terms of vegetative and yield characteristics under newly reclaimed lands.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2406754"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11441042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142356013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-04eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2384874
Thawatchai Thoradit, Marthe Chabi, Blanche Aguida, Soria Baouz, Verene Stierle, Marootpong Pooam, Stephane Tousaints, Casimir D Akpovi, Margaret Ahmad
There is increasing evidence that exposure to weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by modern telecommunications or household appliances has physiological consequences, including reports of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity (EHS) leading to adverse health effects. Although symptoms can be serious, no underlying mechanism for EHS is known and there is no general cure or effective therapy. Here, we present the case study of a self-reported EHS patient whose symptoms include severe headaches, generalized fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, attention and memory deficit, and generalized systemic pain within minutes of exposure to telecommunications (Wifi, cellular phones), high tension lines and electronic devices. Tests for cerebral, cardiovascular, and other physiological anomalies proved negative, as did serological tests for inflammation, allergies, infections, auto-immune conditions, and hormonal imbalance. However, further investigation revealed deficits in cellular anti-oxidants and increased radical scavenging enzymes, indicative of systemic oxidative stress. Significantly, there was a large increase in circulating antibodies for oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDLox), byproducts of oxidative stress accumulating in membranes of vascular cells. Because a known primary effect of EMF exposure is to increase the concentration of cellular oxidants, we propose that pathology in this patient may be causally related to a resulting increase in LDLox synthesis. This in turn could trigger an exaggerated auto-immune response consistent with EHS symptoms. This case report thereby provides a testable mechanistic framework for EHS pathology with therapeutic implications for this debilitating and poorly understood condition.
{"title":"Hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EHS) correlates with immune responsivity to oxidative stress: a case report.","authors":"Thawatchai Thoradit, Marthe Chabi, Blanche Aguida, Soria Baouz, Verene Stierle, Marootpong Pooam, Stephane Tousaints, Casimir D Akpovi, Margaret Ahmad","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2384874","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2384874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is increasing evidence that exposure to weak electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by modern telecommunications or household appliances has physiological consequences, including reports of electromagnetic field hypersensitivity (EHS) leading to adverse health effects. Although symptoms can be serious, no underlying mechanism for EHS is known and there is no general cure or effective therapy. Here, we present the case study of a self-reported EHS patient whose symptoms include severe headaches, generalized fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, attention and memory deficit, and generalized systemic pain within minutes of exposure to telecommunications (Wifi, cellular phones), high tension lines and electronic devices. Tests for cerebral, cardiovascular, and other physiological anomalies proved negative, as did serological tests for inflammation, allergies, infections, auto-immune conditions, and hormonal imbalance. However, further investigation revealed deficits in cellular anti-oxidants and increased radical scavenging enzymes, indicative of systemic oxidative stress. Significantly, there was a large increase in circulating antibodies for oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDLox), byproducts of oxidative stress accumulating in membranes of vascular cells. Because a known primary effect of EMF exposure is to increase the concentration of cellular oxidants, we propose that pathology in this patient may be causally related to a resulting increase in LDLox synthesis. This in turn could trigger an exaggerated auto-immune response consistent with EHS symptoms. This case report thereby provides a testable mechanistic framework for EHS pathology with therapeutic implications for this debilitating and poorly understood condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2384874"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11302546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141898535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-10eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2373301
Arunvel Thangamani, Deepavalli Arumuganainar
As every life form is composed of cells, elements of consciousness, namely memory and sentience, must be grounded in mechanisms that are integral to unicellular organisms. Earlier studies indicated that cellular cytoskeletal structures consisting of excitable, flexible, and oscillating polymers such as microtubules, along with quantum events, are potentially responsible for information processing and thus consciousness. This work attempts to solve the unknown, that is, how, at the spark of life, the phenomenon of cellular information processing first appears. This study posits that the spatially distributed wave energy of the molecules of an incepting cell interacts with space and generates a rotating bioinformation field, forming a vortex. This vortex, the local energy maximum, whose inbound and outbound energy fluxes represent signal reception and dispersal, is a critical step in the spark of life responsible for information storage, and with incremental wave superpositions, exhibits information processing. The vorticity of the rotating field is computed, and the obtained field characteristics indicated the emergence of a prebiotic complex to initiate information processing. Furthermore, the developed system model explains how perturbations from the environment are converted into response signals for the emanation of sense, locomotion, nutrition, and asexual reproduction, the fundamental evolutionary building blocks of prokaryotes. Further research directions include explaining how the energy potential available in the bio-information field and the vortex leads to the first formation of genetic material, emergence of cytoskeleton, and extension of bio-information field to multi-cellular organisms.
{"title":"Emergence of information processing in biological systems and the origin of life.","authors":"Arunvel Thangamani, Deepavalli Arumuganainar","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2373301","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2373301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As every life form is composed of cells, elements of consciousness, namely memory and sentience, must be grounded in mechanisms that are integral to unicellular organisms. Earlier studies indicated that cellular cytoskeletal structures consisting of excitable, flexible, and oscillating polymers such as microtubules, along with quantum events, are potentially responsible for information processing and thus consciousness. This work attempts to solve the unknown, that is, how, at the spark of life, the phenomenon of cellular information processing first appears. This study posits that the spatially distributed wave energy of the molecules of an incepting cell interacts with space and generates a rotating bioinformation field, forming a vortex. This vortex, the local energy maximum, whose inbound and outbound energy fluxes represent signal reception and dispersal, is a critical step in the spark of life responsible for information storage, and with incremental wave superpositions, exhibits information processing. The vorticity of the rotating field is computed, and the obtained field characteristics indicated the emergence of a prebiotic complex to initiate information processing. Furthermore, the developed system model explains how perturbations from the environment are converted into response signals for the emanation of sense, locomotion, nutrition, and asexual reproduction, the fundamental evolutionary building blocks of prokaryotes. Further research directions include explaining how the energy potential available in the bio-information field and the vortex leads to the first formation of genetic material, emergence of cytoskeleton, and extension of bio-information field to multi-cellular organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2373301"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11238918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141591631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-08eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2372313
Dmitrii E Khramov, Olga I Nedelyaeva, Alena O Konoshenkova, Vadim S Volkov, Yurii V Balnokin
Сoding sequences of seven housekeeping genes: actin SaACT7, ubiquitin-conjugating protein SaUBC10, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase SaGAPDH, protein of the large subunit of ribosomes SaL2, α-tubulin SaTUA, translation elongation factor SaeEF1α, and protein phosphatase SaPP2A were identified as candidate reference genes for expression analysis of target genes in the extremely salt tolerant plant Suaeda altissima (L.) Pall. The expression profiles of the genes differed. SaACT7 and SaeEF1α demonstrated the highest expression levels, while the lowest expression levels were found for SaPP2A and SaTUA. SaPP2A and SaeEF1α genes were the most stably expressed at different steady-state salinity levels and different nitrate concentrations in nutrient solutions (NSs). SaL2, SaPP2A, and SaeEF1α genes showed the greatest stability of expression when nitrate was added to nutrient solution of plants grown under conditions of nitrate deficiency. Less constant expression was demonstrated in this experiment by SaACT7 and SaTUA. SaL2, SaACT7, SaeEF1α, and SaUBC10 genes showed the smallest expression changes under salt shock. To validate the use of the most stably expressed genes for normalization of gene expression, we checked them as reference genes to study the expression of the nitrate transporter gene SaNPF6.3 in S. altissima roots under conditions of different salinity and different nitrate supply.
{"title":"Identification and selection of reference genes for analysis of gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR in the euhalophyte <i>Suaeda altissima</i> (L.) Pall.","authors":"Dmitrii E Khramov, Olga I Nedelyaeva, Alena O Konoshenkova, Vadim S Volkov, Yurii V Balnokin","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2372313","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2372313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Сoding sequences of seven housekeeping genes: actin <i>SaACT7</i>, ubiquitin-conjugating protein <i>SaUBC10</i>, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase <i>SaGAPDH</i>, protein of the large subunit of ribosomes <i>SaL2</i>, α-tubulin <i>SaTUA</i>, translation elongation factor <i>SaeEF1α</i>, and protein phosphatase <i>SaPP2A</i> were identified as candidate reference genes for expression analysis of target genes in the extremely salt tolerant plant <i>Suaeda altissima</i> (L.) Pall. The expression profiles of the genes differed. <i>SaACT7</i> and <i>SaeEF1α</i> demonstrated the highest expression levels, while the lowest expression levels were found for <i>SaPP2A</i> and <i>SaTUA</i>. <i>SaPP2A</i> and <i>SaeEF1α</i> genes were the most stably expressed at different steady-state salinity levels and different nitrate concentrations in nutrient solutions (NSs). <i>SaL2</i>, <i>SaPP2A</i>, and <i>SaeEF1α</i> genes showed the greatest stability of expression when nitrate was added to nutrient solution of plants grown under conditions of nitrate deficiency. Less constant expression was demonstrated in this experiment by <i>SaACT7</i> and <i>SaTUA</i>. <i>SaL2, SaACT7, SaeEF1α</i>, and <i>SaUBC10</i> genes showed the smallest expression changes under salt shock. To validate the use of the most stably expressed genes for normalization of gene expression, we checked them as reference genes to study the expression of the nitrate transporter gene <i>SaNPF6.3</i> in <i>S. altissima</i> roots under conditions of different salinity and different nitrate supply.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2372313"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11236294/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141581118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-23eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2024.2369782
Hala I Al-Daghistani, Sima Zein, Manal A Abbas
The Dead Sea is unique compared to other extreme halophilic habitats. Its salinity exceeds 34%, and it is getting saltier. The Dead Sea environment is characterized by a dominance of divalent cations, with magnesium chloride (MgCl2) levels approaching the predicted 2.3 M upper limit for life, an acidic pH of 6.0, and high levels of absorbed ultraviolet radiation. Consequently, only organisms adapted to such a polyextreme environment can survive in the surface, sinkholes, sediments, muds, and underwater springs of the Dead Sea. Metagenomic sequence analysis and amino acid profiling indicated that the Dead Sea is predominantly composed of halophiles that have various adaptation mechanisms and produce metabolites that can be utilized for biotechnological purposes. A variety of products have been obtained from halophilic microorganisms isolated from the Dead Sea, such as antimicrobials, bioplastics, biofuels, extremozymes, retinal proteins, colored pigments, exopolysaccharides, and compatible solutes. These resources find applications in agriculture, food, biofuel production, industry, and bioremediation for the detoxification of wastewater and soil. Utilizing halophiles as a bioprocessing platform offers advantages such as reduced energy consumption, decreased freshwater demand, minimized capital investment, and continuous production.
与其他极端嗜卤生境相比,死海是独一无二的。死海的盐度超过 34%,而且还在不断升高。死海环境的特点是二价阳离子占主导地位,氯化镁(MgCl2)含量接近预测的 2.3 M 生命上限,酸性 pH 值为 6.0,紫外线辐射吸收量大。因此,只有适应这种多极端环境的生物才能在死海的地表、水坑、沉积物、泥浆和水下泉水中生存。元基因组序列分析和氨基酸分析表明,死海主要由具有各种适应机制的嗜卤生物组成,它们产生的代谢物可用于生物技术目的。从死海分离出来的嗜卤微生物已经产生了多种产品,如抗菌剂、生物塑料、生物燃料、极端酶、视网膜蛋白、有色色素、外多糖和相容性溶质。这些资源可应用于农业、食品、生物燃料生产、工业以及用于废水和土壤解毒的生物修复。利用嗜卤生物作为生物加工平台具有降低能耗、减少淡水需求、最大限度地减少资本投资和连续生产等优势。
{"title":"Microbial communities in the Dead Sea and their potential biotechnological applications.","authors":"Hala I Al-Daghistani, Sima Zein, Manal A Abbas","doi":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2369782","DOIUrl":"10.1080/19420889.2024.2369782","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Dead Sea is unique compared to other extreme halophilic habitats. Its salinity exceeds 34%, and it is getting saltier. The Dead Sea environment is characterized by a dominance of divalent cations, with magnesium chloride (MgCl<sub>2</sub>) levels approaching the predicted 2.3 M upper limit for life, an acidic pH of 6.0, and high levels of absorbed ultraviolet radiation. Consequently, only organisms adapted to such a polyextreme environment can survive in the surface, sinkholes, sediments, muds, and underwater springs of the Dead Sea. Metagenomic sequence analysis and amino acid profiling indicated that the Dead Sea is predominantly composed of halophiles that have various adaptation mechanisms and produce metabolites that can be utilized for biotechnological purposes. A variety of products have been obtained from halophilic microorganisms isolated from the Dead Sea, such as antimicrobials, bioplastics, biofuels, extremozymes, retinal proteins, colored pigments, exopolysaccharides, and compatible solutes. These resources find applications in agriculture, food, biofuel production, industry, and bioremediation for the detoxification of wastewater and soil. Utilizing halophiles as a bioprocessing platform offers advantages such as reduced energy consumption, decreased freshwater demand, minimized capital investment, and continuous production.</p>","PeriodicalId":39647,"journal":{"name":"Communicative and Integrative Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":"2369782"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11197920/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}