Biologia futura最新文献

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a profound global impact on individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). This review examines the interplay between COVID-19, cholesterol metabolism, and diabetes, focusing on the differences in lipid regulation between Type I (T1DM) and Type II diabetes (T2DM). Diabetes, characterized by impaired glucose regulation and lipid homeostasis, has been identified as a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including increased rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is often present in diabetic patients and exacerbates the severity of COVID-19. We explore the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 infection affects cholesterol pathways, highlighting the role of cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in viral entry and replication. The review also discusses the potential therapeutic implications of targeting cholesterol metabolism in managing COVID-19 in diabetic populations. Understanding these complex interactions may provide insights into better clinical management strategies and improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients with diabetes.

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising strategy for controlling insect pests, offering precise and environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional pest control methods. By introducing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that specifically targets essential genes involved in pest survival, RNAi disrupts gene expression in target organisms. Various delivery methods, including topical application, transgenic plants, and nanoparticles, have been developed to enhance the effective administration of dsRNA. However, RNAi faces several challenges, including off-target effects, species-specific variations in efficacy, and the potential for resistance development. Despite these obstacles, ongoing research is focused on addressing these issues and improving the efficiency of RNAi-based pest control approaches. Future prospects for RNAi in insect pest management include advancements in delivery technologies, the identification of novel target genes, and the integration of RNAi with complementary pest control strategies. In conclusion, RNAi represents a potential long-term and targeted solution for insect pest control. Continued research and technological advancements are driving its adoption and expanding its application in agriculture and forestry globally. This review provides an in-depth analysis of RNAi mechanisms, evaluates current strategies, highlights the challenges faced, and explores the future directions for its use in insect pest management.

Micronutrients contribute significantly to homeostasis at the cellular, physiological, and biological interface of silkworm growth and development. The silkworm cocoon traits are highly physiologically dependent, controlled by the optimum availability of micronutrient concentrations. Keeping this in view, two micronutrients, i.e., copper and iron, were investigated to understand their role in economic traits in popular bivoltine silkworm double-hybrid FC₁ × FC₂. The mulberry leaves were bio-fortified with copper and iron in the form of copper chloride and ferric chloride with concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5%, respectively. Irrespective of the micronutrients, all the studied pre- and post-cocoon parameters tend to increase at lower concentrations and decline at higher concentrations. ANOVA revealed a significant gain in larval weight (~ 9.28% and ~ 8.42%), single cocoon weight (~ 5.38% and ~ 6.45%), and filament length (~ 8.37%) when the silkworms were fed with the mulberry leaves fortified with a low concentration (0.2%) of copper and iron. The improvement in reelability (~ 4.92%), renditta (~ 1.91% and ~ 1.04%), and denier (~ 11.99% and ~ 7.19%) was maximum at 0.2% of copper- and iron-augmented leaves compared to the control. It is envisaged that copper and iron chlorides compounds have incremental impact in silk production. Therefore, feed bio-fortification with appropriate concentrations of copper and iron is recommended to improve cocoon production in both quality and quantity, thereby enhancing the economic returns for sericulture farmers.

Irisin is a myokine secreted by various tissues in response to exercise and plays a role in neuroplasticity and energy metabolism. This study investigated the effects of voluntary and regular exercise on irisin levels in plasma, prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and skeletal muscle of socially isolated adolescent male rats. Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were used, groups: control (C), social isolation (SI), voluntary exercise (VE), regular exercise (RE), social isolation + voluntary exercise (SI-VE), social isolation + regular exercise (SI-RE). Rats underwent 4-week isolation and exercise protocols. Irisin levels in the hippocampus, PFC, plasma, and gastrocnemius were measured using ELISA. Hippocampal irisin levels were increased in SI-RE; prefrontal irisin levels were increased in RE; and gastrocnemius irisin levels were increased in SI-RE and SI-VE. No significant differences were observed in plasma irisin levels. The elevated hippocampal irisin levels observed in SI-RE may indicate that irisin plays a protective role in reducing the negative effects of social isolation-induced stress on learning and memory, potentially promoting neuroplasticity. The increase in prefrontal cortical irisin in RE suggests a possible role for irisin in mood regulation. The elevated irisin levels in the gastrocnemius in SI-VE, SI-RE support the idea that irisin is an important muscle-derived hormone regulated not only by physical activity but also by stress responses. Overall, this study suggests that irisin interacts with both the central nervous system and skeletal muscle tissues in the context of social isolation, stress, and exercise, and that regular physical exercise may play a role in reducing the negative neurobiological effects of chronic stress.

Species distribution models (SDMs) remotely guide conservation programs for endangered species by estimating potential reserve areas based on a set of environmental features. Most SDM research only explains their predictions across the study area (global), effectively disregarding the predictions for specific sites (local) where conservation-related activities are confined. This study aims to address this spatial gap in explainability by applying model-agnostic post-hoc methods in explainable artificial intelligence for SDM at two scopes. These methods explain the importance, effects, and interactions of bioclimatic features on the SDM for Mindoro warty pigs (Sus oliveri), an emblematic yet endangered endemic fauna in Mindoro Island, Philippines. Areas with a high predicted probability of presence coincide with higher elevation, spanning the Mindoro Mountain Range. Global explainability methods-Permutation Feature Importance, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP), and Accumulated Local Effect-reveal that annual precipitation mostly accounts for this island-wide trend, with more rain corresponding to higher probabilities. This is also observed using local explainability methods-SHAP, Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations, and Break Down-for the respective predictions on three potential conservation sites. The cumulative effect of bioclimatic features in these ~ 1 km² sites-within Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Upper Amnay Watershed, and Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary-is a decrease in the predicted probability of presence. This calls for improved local monitoring of Mindoro warty pig populations. While building upon our ongoing efforts for its conservation in Mindoro Island, this study also extends the pipeline for SDM using explainability methods, thereby opening a new axis for interpreting SDM predictions.

Insects are considered as an alternative in vivo model for evaluating various biological activities. Among them, larvae stand out as experimental model due to the low economic value during maintenance, in addition to the low demand and easy handling. Tenebrio molitor larvae are receiving attention as alternative methods in determination of efficacy studies. Therefore, the present study aimed to review experimental models that use T. molitor larvae as alternatives in defining the biological activities, safety, and effectiveness of new drugs. The current review was conducted using online journal databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase without geographical, publication date, or filtering restrictions. The search obtained a total of 5781 documents which were evaluated according to the focus of the review, reaching 14 articles. Thus, the systematic search strategy was developed to encompass all published papers that explore the use of larvae in experimental studies, particularly those investigating the biological activity and/or characterization of drugs/compounds. The selected articles were classified according to the methodologies used, such as toxicity, antimicrobial, and other types of assessments. Despite the results, there is still a lack of studies that use this model as a source for evaluating drugs and possible therapies.

Records of sunlight intensity at anthesis of 388 rice landraces (with 32 replicated populations), flowering in the short-day season of 2022, reveal that under cloudy condition, the rice florets tend to open later, or the sunrise-to-anthesis duration (SAD) is longer when rice florets open than at sunny period. This difference in the length of SAD was statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001), confirmed by a two-sample permutation test with 10,000 iterations. This finding corroborates our general observation previously reported from a larger set of 1114 landraces (including the 388 landraces examined in this study). However, the intensity of sunlight at the flower opening time (FOT) may not remain uniformly sunny (high illuminance) or cloudy (low illuminance, < 40,000 lx) until the flower closing time (FCT). To understand the effect of uniformly low sunlight intensity, we subsequently recorded solar illuminance at FOT of 33 landrace populations (including 8 repeats). Half of each population was kept under artificial shade, compared to the other half exposed to sunlight. This experiment revealed that low illuminance, mimicking overcast days, significantly (p < 0.02) delays FOT and lengthens SAD, corroborating the pattern detected in our earlier findings. Permutation test with 10,000 iterations decisively confirms (p < 0.0001) the prolongation of SAD under shade and cloudy conditions. Experimental shading has an indeterminate effect on flower exposure duration (FED) of the same landraces. We surmise that the delayed FOT during natural cloudy period is an adaptation in rice plants in anticipation of rain, for protection of the pollen from rainwash.

The effect of low-dose, commercially available wastewater sludge compost (WSC; 15 t ha^-1) treatment was examined with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation on the nutritional status, heavy metal (HM) concentration and the rhizosphere activity of giant reed (Arundo donax L. var. BL clone (Blossom)) plants. Funneliformis mosseae (BEG12; AMF1), F. geosporum (BEG11; AMF2) or their combination (AMFmix) were applied as AMF treatments in a short-term pot experiment. The physiological and growth parameters of the host plants, the AMF root colonization and the microbiological enzyme activity of the mycorrhizosphere were examined. We assumed that the combined treatment (WSC + AMF) enhances the fertility of low-fertility acidic sandy soil. Neither the WSC treatment nor the AMF inoculations changed the extent of root colonization. Based on the results of root electrical capacitance and the phosphorous uptake, plant nutritional status was improved by WSC addition, without any negative impacts among the measured parameters. AMF treatments increased the enzyme activity in the soil and decreased the concentrations of the potentially toxic HMs (Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn) in roots, but that mitigation of Cu and Zn was compensated in shoots. According to the results of MicroResp™ measurements, the catabolic activity profile of the soil microbial community was changed in case of the AMF2 treatment. The efficient regulatory mechanism of giant reed might be able to adjust optimal/maximal colonization rate, and to select the preferential AMF partners, this supposed mechanism might be responsible for its invasiveness and tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions.

The aim of the study was the induction of water stress tolerance in the fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) by the combined proline (Pro) and bacterial strain BEB1 (BEB1) application as foliar spray. Arrangement of experiment was done in field as split-split plot in open natural environmental conditions. Deficit water supply significantly adversely affected the growth and yield of fennel plants. Foliar-applied different treatments significantly reduced the water stress adverse effects on the performance of fennel plants regarding growth and yield that found linked to improvement in water status of plants and better net photosynthetic activity of fennel plants in comparison to non-treated plants. Combined application of Pro and BEB1 better maintained the seed yield and growth of fennel plants found associated with reduced lipid peroxidation, improvement in antioxidative defence mechanism, maintenance of plant water relations through better osmotic adjustment by increased accumulation of different metabolites. The maintenance of better yield and biomass production of water-stressed fennel plants also found positively associated with increased uptake as well as translocation of mineral nutrients. The maximum increase (30, 35 and 36, 34%) in shoot and root fresh and dry biomasses respectively and a decrease (24.13, 23.01 and 25.75%) in LRMP, MDA and H₂O₂ respectively, was found in plants sprayed with 1%Pro + BEB1. An increase of 41.43% in seed yield was recorded in fennel plants sprayed with 1%Pro + BEB1. Combined foliar spray of Pro and BEB1 was found better to increase tolerance against water stress for better yield by improving physio-biochemical mechanisms than their individual applications.

Damage in lettuce production caused by burgundy snails has led to an increased use of molluscicidal chemicals, which persist in both the lettuce and the substrate, and accumulate over time with undesirable outcomes in terms of mollusk pest control. Moreover, these chemicals also harm natural snail populations. In this study, the effects of selected bryophyte species extracts and their application concentrations were tested as natural snail repellents. Twelve bryophyte species, eight mosses, and four liverworts were randomly selected, and their ethanolic extracts were applied as burgundy snail repellents in lettuce. Significant antifeeding effects were observed for the liverworts Bazzania trilobata, Plagiochila asplenioides, and Porella platyphylla, as well as for the mosses Fontinalis antipyretica, Mnium stellare, and Neckera crispa. Among these, B. trilobata exhibited the strongest antifeeding effect without negatively impacting lettuce growth and development, as assessed through seed germination, hypocotyl length, and seedling total chlorophyll content. All bryophyte species with significant antifeeding i.e. repellent potential shared similar chemical profiles, characterized by high phenolic and triterpenoid contents and strong antioxidant capacity. The results obtained offer a nature-based solution in lettuce crop protection as well as an eco-friendly alternative in food production.