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Lett Appl Microbiol 2022 May 22. Epub 2022 May 22.

Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia.

The production of a stable foam on the surfaces of reactors is a global operating problem in activated sludge plants. In many cases these foams are stabilized by hydrophobic members of the Mycolata, a group of Actinobacteria whose outer membranes contains long chain hydroxylated mycolic acids. There is currently no single strategy which works for all foams. Read More

Plant Biotechnol J 2022 May 22. Epub 2022 May 22.

Earlham Institute, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK.

Wheat is a globally vital crop, but its limited genetic variation creates a challenge for breeders aiming to maintain or accelerate agricultural improvements over time. Introducing novel genes and alleles from wheat's wild relatives into the wheat breeding pool via introgression lines is an important component of overcoming this low variation but is constrained by poor genomic resolution and limited understanding of the genomic impact of introgression breeding programmes. By sequencing 17 hexaploid wheat/Ambylopyrum muticum introgression lines and the parent lines, we have precisely pinpointed the borders of introgressed segments, most of which occur within genes. Read More

Mol Nutr Food Res 2022 May 22:e2200170. Epub 2022 May 22.

Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.

Allergic diseases are one of the most common health disorders affecting about 30% of the world population. Mast cells (MCs) are key effector cells of allergic reactions by releasing proinflammatory mediators including histamine, lipid mediators and cytokines/chemokines. Natural substances like secondary plant substances such as resveratrol (RESV), which can contribute to prevention and treatment of diseases, are becoming increasingly interesting for use as nutraceuticals. Read More

Ecol Lett 2022 May 22. Epub 2022 May 22.

Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Research Center of Global Change and Complex Ecosystems, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, P. R. China.

Demographic compensation-the opposing responses of vital rates along environmental gradients-potentially delays anticipated species' range contraction under climate change, but no consensus exists on its actual contribution. We calculated population growth rate (λ) and demographic compensation across the distributional ranges of 81 North American tree species and examined their responses to simulated warming and tree competition. We found that 43% of species showed stable population size at both northern and southern edges. Read More

Andrologia 2022 May 21:e14476. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Physiology, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Oxido-inflammatory stress has been involved in lead-induced testicular dysfunction and plants rich in anti-oxidants has been reported to be beneficial in combating heavy metal poisonings in animal studies. However, cabbage juice protective effect on lead-induced testicular dysfunction was investigated in this study. Twenty male Wistar rats were selected into four (n = 5) groups and given distilled water (1 ml/100 g body weight), lead acetate (25 mg/kg body weight), cabbage juice (1 ml/100 g body weight), and lead acetate with cabbage juice, respectively. Read More

J Comp Neurol 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Understanding Evolution Research Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Spider brain and central nervous system (CNS) have remained unexplored, due in part to the difficulty of observing these organs, usually only possible through histological preparations. Recently, internal anatomy studies have been supplemented by the inclusion of X- ray micro-CT. Unmineralized tissue such as the body of invertebrates requires a staining process to enhance tissue X-ray absorption and improve contrast during observation. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Background: The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma dendrolimi can both contribute to biological control of the global fruit borer, Grapholita molesta. To derive insights for optimizing their combined application in augmentation programs, we assayed fungal pathogenicity to both G. molesta (eggs, larvae and adults) and adult parasitoids, and assessed wasp acquisition and transmission of fungal spores following their emergence from B. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Egypt.

Background: Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is a virus that infects cucurbits and has been identified as a major limiting factor in cucurbit production. The purpose of this study was to create copper oxide nanostructures (CONS) to control ZYMV in squash plants. The protection of squash against ZYMV was assessed in terms of virus severity, ZYMV concentration, transcription of pathogenesis-related genes and growth enhancement of treated squash. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Entomology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel.

Background: Push-pull with semiochemicals in pest management uses repellents to reduce response of pests to food-mate resources (push) and attractive traps to reduce populations (pull). Simulation models of push-pull can aid understanding of plant-insect interactions in nature and suggest hypotheses for field tests that improve management. A previous model indicated advantages of push-pull for controlling ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, pest of avocado trees. Read More

Microb Cell Fact 2022 May 21;21(1):91. Epub 2022 May 21.

Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Enzymatic and Biomolecules, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, Sidi Mansour Road Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia.

Background: Omics approaches are widely applied in the field of biology for the discovery of potential CAZymes including whole genome sequencing. The aim of this study was to identify protein encoding genes including CAZymes in order to understand glycans-degrading machinery in the thermophilic Caldicoprobacter algeriensis TH7C1 strain.

Results: Caldicoprobacter algeriensis TH7C1 is a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Firmicutes phylum, which grows between the temperatures of 55 °C and 75 °C. Read More

Virol J 2022 May 21;19(1):87. Epub 2022 May 21.

Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: The new coronavirus (COVID-19) has been transmitted exponentially. Numerous studies have been performed in recent years that have shown the inhibitory effect of plant extracts or plant-derived compounds on the coronavirus family. In this study, we want to use systematic review and meta-analysis to answer the question, which herbal compound has been more effective?

Main Body: The present study is based on the guidelines for conducting meta-analyzes. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2022 May 21;15(1):174. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.

Background: Among live wild mammals adapted to urban and peri-urban habitats in Europe, members of the families Felidae, Mustelidae and Sciuridae deserve special attention as pathogen reservoirs because all of these families include members that are kept as pets. We report here the results of our study on two important groups of tick-borne protozoan parasites in ticks and tissues of wild cats, mustelids and red squirrels.

Methods: DNA was extracted from the tissues of carnivores (wild cats, mustelids; n = 16) and red squirrels (n = 4), as well as from ixodid ticks (n = 89) collected from these hosts. Read More

Genome Biol 2022 May 21;23(1):120. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK.

Background: Hybridization is associated with the activation of transposable elements and changes in the patterns of gene expression leading to phenotypic changes. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Results: Here, we describe the changes to the gene expression in interspecific Solanum hybrids that are associated with small RNAs derived from endogenous (para)retroviruses (EPRV). Read More

BMC Plant Biol 2022 May 21;22(1):252. Epub 2022 May 21.

College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.

Background: Lycopene epsilon-cyclase (ε-LCY) is a key enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway (CBP) of higher plants. In previous work, we cloned two Ntε-LCY genes from allotetraploid tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Ntε-LCY2 and Ntε-LCY1, and demonstrated the overall effect of Ntε-LCY genes on carotenoid biosynthesis and stress resistance. However, their genetic and functional characteristics require further research in polyploid plants. Read More

Theor Appl Genet 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

AV Data Analytics, Pilton, QLD, 4361, Australia.

Key Message: A powerful QTL analysis method for nested association mapping populations is presented. Based on a one-stage multi-locus model, it provides accurate predictions of founder specific QTL effects. Nested association mapping (NAM) populations have been created to enable the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in different genetic backgrounds. Read More

Theor Appl Genet 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Ås, Norway.

Key Message: This study identified a significant number of QTL that are associated with FHB disease resistance in NMBU spring wheat panel by conducting genome-wide association study. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a widely known devastating disease of wheat caused by Fusarium graminearum and other Fusarium species. FHB resistance is quantitative, highly complex and divided into several resistance types. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran.

Thimerosal (THIM) kills brain neurons via induction of apoptosis and necrosis and induces the pathological features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in rats. THIM also affects the function of glutamatergic receptors. On the other hand, exercise induces both improvement and impairment effects on memory, depending on intensity, type, and duration. Read More

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.

Two endophytic actinobacteria, strains SBTS01 and W18L9, were isolated from leaf sheath and leaf tissue, respectively, of Jasmine rice (Oryza sativa KDML 105) grown in a rice paddy field in Roi Et Province, Thailand. A polyphasic taxonomic study showed that both strains belong to the genus Streptomyces; they are aerobic, forming well-developed substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia with long chains of spores. Strain SBTS01 shares high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Streptomyces rochei NRRL B-2410 (99. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 21;12(1):8599. Epub 2022 May 21.

Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.

Nutrient excess, such as the intake of a high-fat diet, reduces hypothalamic responses to exogenously administered leptin and induces dietary obesity; however, orally active components that attenuate neural leptin dysregulation have yet to be identified. We herein demonstrated that YHIEPV, derived from the pepsin-pancreatin digestion of the green leaf protein Rubisco, increased the leptin-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 in ex vivo hypothalamic slice cultures. We also showed that YHIEPV mitigated palmitic acid-induced decreases in leptin responsiveness. Read More

Cell Discov 2022 May 21;8(1):48. Epub 2022 May 21.

Department of Cell Biology and Department of Gastroenterology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

PCIF1 (phosphorylated CTD interacting factor 1) is the first reported RNA N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine (mAm) methyltransferase. However, the pathological significance of PCIF1 and mAm modification remains unknown. Here we find that both PCIF1 expression and mAm modification are significantly elevated in gastric cancer tissues. Read More

Rev Med Interne 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Département de médecine d'urgences, CHRU Tours, Tours, France; Université de Tours, Tours, France.

Introduction: Colchicine poisoning is a life-threatening intoxication.

Case Report: We report a case of food poisosing with Colchicum autumnale by confusion with wild garlic. The clinical presentation is the same as that of colchicine drug intoxication. Read More

J Chem Phys 2022 May;156(19):191103

Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Department for Biophysical Chemistry, Gaußstr. 17, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.

Transitions into the first excited state of carotenoids, Car S, are optically forbidden in conventional one-photon excitation (OPE) but are possible via two-photon excitation (TPE). This can be used to quantify the amount of Car S to Chlorophyll (Chl) energy transfer in pigment-protein complexes and plants by observing the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity after TPE in comparison to the intensity observed after direct chlorophyll OPE. A parameter, Φ , can be derived that directly reflects relative differences or changes in the Car S → Chl energy transfer of different pigment-protein complexes and even living plants. Read More

J Mol Biol 2022 May 18:167627. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Electronic address:

Natural evolution is driven by random mutations that improve fitness. In vitro evolution mimics this process, however, on a short time-scale and is driven by the given bait. Here, we used directed in vitro evolution of a random mutant library of Uracil glycosylase (eUNG) displayed on yeast surface to select for binding to chaperones GroEL, DnaK+DnaJ+ATP (DnaKJ) or E. Read More

Gene 2022 May 18:146591. Epub 2022 May 18.

Laboratory of Legumes, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are ubiquitous oxidoreductase proteins implicated in development and abiotic stress response mainly through maintaining redox homoeostasis. Here, we conducted the first systematic analysis of the Grx gene family (PvGrx) in the most popular legume Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). A total of 50 PvGrx genes were identified, and divided into four classes (CC-type, CGFS-type, CPYC-type and Grl-type) based on the phylogenetic analysis. Read More

Toxicon 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Konya Food and Agricultural University Konya, Turkey.

Clays, glucomannans and their combinations are widely used to bind mycotoxins in contaminated feeds to reduce their toxic effects on animals. In the present study, the binding abilities of clinoptilolite, sepiolite, bentonite, and montmorillonite, glucomannan, and four commercial TB products (P1, P2, C1 and C2) were investigated in vitro for their binding effects on seven different mycotoxins (AF, aflatoxin; OTA, ochratoxin; ZEA, zearalenone; DON, deoxynivalenol; FUM, fumonisin; T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin) in medium at pH 3.0 and 6. Read More

J Microbiol Methods 2022 May 18:106492. Epub 2022 May 18.

Centre for Plant Science and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan.

Being a model plant, Arabidopsis transformation is a frequent routine in genetics and molecular laboratories. Here, we explain a modified floral dip method routinely used in our laboratory for Arabidopsis transformation by applying drought stress after plant treatment with Agrobacterium. Hundreds of individual transgenic plants are produced from just 30 infiltrated plants by increasing transformation frequency from 1% to 10% within 2-3 months. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 May 18:119488. Epub 2022 May 18.

Synergetic Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops and National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, China.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important phytohormone for plant adaptation to mercury (Hg) stress. The effect of Hg on lignin synthesis, NO production in leaf, sheath and root and their relationship were investigated in two members of the grass family - wheat and maize. Hg stress decreased growth and lignin contents, significantly affected phenylpropanoid and monolignol pathways (PAL, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase; 4-coumarate: CoA ligase, 4CL; cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD), with maize identified to be more sensitive to Hg stress than wheat. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 May 18:119493. Epub 2022 May 18.

Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environment Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.

Solanum nigrum L. is a Cd hyperaccumulator, but the potential for continuous remediation, or different planting methods have not been fully characterized. The potential for continuous phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated farmland soil (2. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 May 18:119492. Epub 2022 May 18.

University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address:

Trace elements (TEs) contamination of agricultural soils requires suitable criteria for regulating their toxicity limits in soil and food crops, which depends on their potential ecological risk spanning regional to global scales. However, no comprehensive study is available that links TE concentrations in paddy soil with ecological and human health risks in less developed regions like Pakistan. Here we evaluated the data set to establish standard guidelines for defining the hazard levels of various potentially toxic TEs (such as As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) in agricultural paddy soils of Punjab, Pakistan. Read More

J Genet Genomics 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China. Electronic address:

Ralstonia solanacearum is a widespread plant bacterial pathogen that can launch a range of type III effectors (T3Es) to cause disease. In this study, we isolate a pathogenic R. solanacearum strain named P380 from tomato rhizosphere. Read More