Displaying publications 501 - 520 of 9211 in total

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  1. Fulltext Production of Plant Beneficial and Antioxidants Metabolites by Klebsiellavariicola under Salinity Stress
    Kusale SP, Attar YC, Sayyed RZ, Malek RA, Ilyas N, Suriani NL, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 Mar 26;26(7).
    PMID: 33810565 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071894
    Bacteria that surround plant roots and exert beneficial effects on plant growth are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In addition to the plant growth-promotion, PGPR also imparts resistance against salinity and oxidative stress and needs to be studied. Such PGPR can function as dynamic bioinoculants under salinity conditions. The present study reports the isolation of phytase positive multifarious Klebsiella variicola SURYA6 isolated from wheat rhizosphere in Kolhapur, India. The isolate produced various plant growth-promoting (PGP), salinity ameliorating, and antioxidant traits. It produced organic acid, yielded a higher phosphorous solubilization index (9.3), maximum phytase activity (376.67 ± 2.77 U/mL), and copious amounts of siderophore (79.0%). The isolate also produced salt ameliorating traits such as indole acetic acid (78.45 ± 1.9 µg/mL), 1 aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (0.991 M/mg/h), and exopolysaccharides (32.2 ± 1.2 g/L). In addition to these, the isolate also produced higher activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (13.86 IU/mg protein), catalase (0.053 IU/mg protein), and glutathione oxidase (22.12 µg/mg protein) at various salt levels. The isolate exhibited optimum growth and maximum secretion of these metabolites during the log-phase growth. It exhibited sensitivity to a wide range of antibiotics and did not produce hemolysis on blood agar, indicative of its non-pathogenic nature. The potential of K. variicola to produce copious amounts of various PGP, salt ameliorating, and antioxidant metabolites make it a potential bioinoculant for salinity stress management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism*; Klebsiella/metabolism*
  2. Mitigation of oxidative stress damage caused by abiotic stress to improve biomass yield of microalgae: A review
    Zhu J, Cai Y, Wakisaka M, Yang Z, Yin Y, Fang W, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2023 Oct 20;896:165200.
    PMID: 37400020 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165200
    Microalgae have been recognized as emerging cell factories due to the high value-added bio-products. However, the balance between algal growth and the accumulation of metabolites is always the main contradiction in algal biomass production. Hence, the security and effectiveness of regulating microalgal growth and metabolism simultaneously have drawn substantial attention. Since the correspondence between microalgal growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level has been confirmed, improving its growth under oxidative stress and promoting biomass accumulation under non-oxidative stress by exogenous mitigators is feasible. This paper first introduced ROS generation in microalgae and described the effects of different abiotic stresses on the physiological and biochemical status of microalgae from these aspects associated with growth, cell morphology and structure, and antioxidant system. Secondly, the role of exogenous mitigators with different mechanisms in alleviating abiotic stress was concluded. Finally, the possibility of exogenous antioxidants regulating microalgal growth and improving the accumulation of specific products under non-stress conditions was discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
  3. Cholesterol-linoleic acid liposomes induced extracellular vesicles secretion from immortalized adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for in vitro cell migration
    Chen JW, Liew FF, Tan HW, Misran M, Chung I
    Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol, 2023 Dec;51(1):346-360.
    PMID: 37524112 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2023.2237534
    Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles that are naturally released by cells and play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication, tissue repair and regeneration. As naturally secreted EVs are limited, liposomes with different physicochemical properties, such as 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) and linoleic acid (LA) with modifications have been formulated to improve EVs secretion for in vitro wound healing. Various analyses, including dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to monitor the successful preparation of different types of liposomes. The results showed that cholesterol-LA liposomes significantly improved the secretion of EVs from immortalized adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) by 1.5-fold. Based on the cell migration effects obtained from scratch assay, both LA liposomal-induced EVs and cholesterol-LA liposomal-induced EVs significantly enhanced the migration of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell line. These findings suggested that LA and cholesterol-LA liposomes that enhance EVs secretion are potentially useful and can be extended for various tissue regeneration applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Liposomes/metabolism; Linoleic Acid/metabolism
  4. Fulltext A tryptophan metabolite made by a gut microbiome eukaryote induces pro-inflammatory T cells
    Wojciech L, Png CW, Koh EY, Kioh DYQ, Deng L, Wang Z, et al.
    EMBO J, 2023 Nov 02;42(21):e112963.
    PMID: 37743772 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112963
    The large intestine harbors microorganisms playing unique roles in host physiology. The beneficial or detrimental outcome of host-microbiome coexistence depends largely on the balance between regulators and responder intestinal CD4+ T cells. We found that ulcerative colitis-like changes in the large intestine after infection with the protist Blastocystis ST7 in a mouse model are associated with reduction of anti-inflammatory Treg cells and simultaneous expansion of pro-inflammatory Th17 responders. These alterations in CD4+ T cells depended on the tryptophan metabolite indole-3-acetaldehyde (I3AA) produced by this single-cell eukaryote. I3AA reduced the Treg subset in vivo and iTreg development in vitro by modifying their sensing of TGFβ, concomitantly affecting recognition of self-flora antigens by conventional CD4+ T cells. Parasite-derived I3AA also induces over-exuberant TCR signaling, manifested by increased CD69 expression and downregulation of co-inhibitor PD-1. We have thus identified a new mechanism dictating CD4+ fate decisions. The findings thus shine a new light on the ability of the protist microbiome and tryptophan metabolites, derived from them or other sources, to modulate the adaptive immune compartment, particularly in the context of gut inflammatory disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tryptophan/metabolism; Eukaryota/metabolism
  5. Fulltext Characterization of Aloe Barbadensis Miller leaves as a potential electrical energy source with optimum experimental setup conditions
    Chong PL, Singh AK, Kok SL
    PLoS One, 2019;14(6):e0218758.
    PMID: 31237903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218758
    Electrical energy can be harvested from the living plants as a new potential renewable energy source. Characterization of the electrical signal is needed to enable an optimum energy harvesting setup condition. In the present paper, an investigation is conducted to analyze the characteristic of Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera) leaves in terms of electrical energy generation under specific experimental setups. The experimental results show that 1111.55uW electrical power can be harvested from the Aloe Vera with 24 pairs of electrodes and this energy is capable to be stored in a capacitor. This energy has a high potential to be used to power up a low power consumption device.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aloe/metabolism*; Plant Leaves/metabolism
  6. Analysis of Condition Index in Polymesoda expansa (Mousson 1849)
    Abdul Rahim A, Idris MH, Kamal AH, Wong SK, Arshad A
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2012 Jul 01;15(13):629-34.
    PMID: 24218932
    The Condition Index (CI) is a method to measure overall health of fish and that has been applied to estimate the effect that different environmental factors have on clam meat quality. The CI of local mangrove clam Polymesoda expansa in Kelulit, Miri Sarawak was determined from October 2010 to November 2011. Condition index that is generally used to characterize the physiological activity of organisms, varied from 1.8% in December 2010 to 3.4% in October 2011, with low values observed during the spawning period. The clam attained their best condition in quality of flesh weight during July-October. In present study, the CI showed a clear relationship with the reproductive cycle of P. expansa. However, no significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found between CI and the different physicochemical parameter of seawater. The data presented is necessary for developing sustainable management strategies and broodstock selection for the species which is crucial in aquaculture development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chlorophyll/metabolism; Oxygen/metabolism
  7. Azolla pinnata growth performance in different water sources
    Nordiah B, Harah ZM, Sidik BJ, Hazma WN
    Pak J Biol Sci, 2012 Jul 01;15(13):621-8.
    PMID: 24218931
    Azolla pinnata R.Br. growth performance experiments in different water sources were conducted from May until July 2011 at Aquaculture Research Station, Puchong, Malaysia. Four types of water sources (waste water, drain water, paddy field water and distilled water) each with different nutrient contents were used to grow and evaluate the growth performance of A. pinnata. Four water sources with different nutrient contents; waste, drain, paddy and distilled water as control were used to evaluate the growth performance of A. pinnata. Generally, irrespective of the types of water sources there were increased in plant biomass from the initial biomass (e.g., after the first week; lowest 25.2% in distilled water to highest 133.3% in drain water) and the corresponding daily growth rate (3.61% in distilled water to 19.04% in drain water). The increased in biomass although fluctuated with time was consistently higher in drain water compared to increased in biomass for other water sources. Of the four water sources, drain water with relatively higher nitrate concentration (0.035 +/- 0.003 mg L(-l)) and nitrite (0.044 +/- 0.005 mg L(-1)) and with the available phosphate (0.032 +/- 0.006 mg L(-1)) initially provided the most favourable conditions for Azolla growth and propagation. Based on BVSTEP analysis (PRIMER v5), the results indicated that a combination of more than one nutrient or multiple nutrient contents explained the observed increased in biomass of A. pinnata grown in the different water sources.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nitrates/metabolism; Phosphorus/metabolism
  8. Interdigitated impedimetric-based Maackia amurensis lectin biosensor for prostate cancer biomarker
    Rahman SFA, Arshad MKM, Gopinath SCB, Fathil MFM, Sarry F, Ibau C, et al.
    Mikrochim Acta, 2024 Jan 31;191(2):118.
    PMID: 38296851 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06189-4
    Highly specific detection of tumor-associated biomarkers remains a challenge in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this research, Maackia amurensis (MAA) was used as a recognition element in the functionalization of an electrochemical impedance-spectroscopy biosensor without a label to identify cancer-associated aberrant glycosylation prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The lectin was immobilized on gold-interdigitated microelectrodes. Furthermore, the biosensor's impedance response was used to assess the establishment of a complex binding between MAA and PSA-containing glycans. With a small sample volume, the functionalized interdigitated impedimetric-based (IIB) biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, rapid response, and repeatability. PSA glycoprotein detection was performed by measuring electron transfer resistance values within a concentration range 0.01-100 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 3.574 pg/mL. In this study, the ability of MAA to preferentially recognize α2,3-linked sialic acid in serum PSA was proven, suggesting a potential platform for the development of lectin-based, miniaturized, and cost effective IIB biosensors for future disease detection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Prostate/metabolism; Maackia/metabolism
  9. Intranasal nanoparticulate delivery systems for neurodegenerative disorders: a review
    Babu SR, Shekara HH, Sahoo AK, Harsha Vardhan PV, Thiruppathi N, Venkatesh MP
    Ther Deliv, 2023 Sep;14(9):571-594.
    PMID: 37691577 DOI: 10.4155/tde-2023-0019
    Neurodegenerative diseases are a significant cause of mortality worldwide, and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for drug delivery. An intranasal route is a prominent approach among the various methods to bypass the BBB. There are different pathways involved in intranasal drug delivery. The drawbacks of this method include mucociliary clearance, enzymatic degradation and poor drug permeation. Novel nanoformulations and intranasal drug-delivery devices offer promising solutions to overcome these challenges. Nanoformulations include polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles, microspheres, liposomes and noisomes. Additionally, intranasal devices could be utilized to enhance drug-delivery efficacy. Therefore, intranasal drug-delivery systems show potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases through trigeminal or olfactory pathways, which can significantly improve patient outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism; Brain/metabolism
  10. Fulltext The global biogeography of tree leaf form and habit
    Ma H, Crowther TW, Mo L, Maynard DS, Renner SS, van den Hoogen J, et al.
    Nat Plants, 2023 Nov;9(11):1795-1809.
    PMID: 37872262 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01543-5
    Understanding what controls global leaf type variation in trees is crucial for comprehending their role in terrestrial ecosystems, including carbon, water and nutrient dynamics. Yet our understanding of the factors influencing forest leaf types remains incomplete, leaving us uncertain about the global proportions of needle-leaved, broadleaved, evergreen and deciduous trees. To address these gaps, we conducted a global, ground-sourced assessment of forest leaf-type variation by integrating forest inventory data with comprehensive leaf form (broadleaf vs needle-leaf) and habit (evergreen vs deciduous) records. We found that global variation in leaf habit is primarily driven by isothermality and soil characteristics, while leaf form is predominantly driven by temperature. Given these relationships, we estimate that 38% of global tree individuals are needle-leaved evergreen, 29% are broadleaved evergreen, 27% are broadleaved deciduous and 5% are needle-leaved deciduous. The aboveground biomass distribution among these tree types is approximately 21% (126.4 Gt), 54% (335.7 Gt), 22% (136.2 Gt) and 3% (18.7 Gt), respectively. We further project that, depending on future emissions pathways, 17-34% of forested areas will experience climate conditions by the end of the century that currently support a different forest type, highlighting the intensification of climatic stress on existing forests. By quantifying the distribution of tree leaf types and their corresponding biomass, and identifying regions where climate change will exert greatest pressure on current leaf types, our results can help improve predictions of future terrestrial ecosystem functioning and carbon cycling.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbon/metabolism; Plant Leaves/metabolism
  11. Integrating phytoremediation and mycoremediation with biosurfactant-producing fungi for hydrocarbon removal and the potential production of secondary resources
    Ahmad J, Marsidi N, Sheikh Abdullah SR, Hasan HA, Othman AR, Ismail N', et al.
    Chemosphere, 2024 Feb;349:140881.
    PMID: 38048826 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140881
    Treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil to a less toxic medium via physical and chemical treatment is too costly and requires posttreatment. This review focuses on the employment of phytoremediation and mycoremediation technologies in cleaning hydrocarbon-contaminated soil which is currently rare. It is considered environmentally beneficial and possibly cost-effective as it implements the synergistic interaction between plants and biosurfactant producing mycorrhiza to degrade hydrocarbon contaminants. This review also covers possible sources of hydrocarbon pollution in water and soil, toxicity effects, and current technologies for hydrocarbon removal and degradation. In addition to these problems, this review also discusses the challenges and opportunities of transforming the resultant treated sludge and treating plants into potential by-products for a higher quality of life for future generations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrocarbons/metabolism; Plants/metabolism
  12. Fulltext Nickel stocks and fluxes in a tropical agromining 'metal crop' farming system in Sabah (Malaysia)
    Tisserand R, van der Ent A, Nkrumah PN, Didier S, Sumail S, Morel JL, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2024 Apr 01;919:170691.
    PMID: 38325468 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170691
    Nickel hyperaccumulator plants play a major role in nickel recycling in ultramafic ecosystems, and under agromining the nickel dynamics in the farming system will be affected by removal of nickel-rich biomass. We investigated the biogeochemical cycling of nickel as well as key nutrients in an agromining operation that uses the metal crop Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi in the first tropical metal farm located in Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia). For two years, this study monitored nine 25-m2 plots and collected information on weather, biomass exportation, water, and litter fluxes to the soil. Without harvesting, nickel inputs and outputs had only minor contributions (<1 %) to the total nickel budget in this system. The nickel cycle was mainly driven by internal fluxes, particularly plant uptake, litterfall and throughfall. After two years of cropping, the nickel litter flux corresponded to 50 % of the total nickel stock in the aerial biomass (3.1 g m-2 year-1). Nickel was slowly released from the litter; after 15 months of degradation, 60 % of the initial biomass and the initial nickel quantities were still present in the organic layer. Calcium, phosphorus and potassium budgets in the system were negative without fertilisation. Unlike what is observed for nickel, sustained agromining would thus lead to a strong depletion of calcium stocks if mineral weathering cannot replenish it.
    Matched MeSH terms: Calcium/metabolism; Plants/metabolism
  13. Fulltext Structure-Based Discovery of Lipoteichoic Acid Synthase Inhibitors
    Chee Wezen X, Chandran A, Eapen RS, Waters E, Bricio-Moreno L, Tosi T, et al.
    J Chem Inf Model, 2022 May 23;62(10):2586-2599.
    PMID: 35533315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00300
    Lipoteichoic acid synthase (LtaS) is a key enzyme for the cell wall biosynthesis of Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria that lack lipoteichoic acid (LTA) exhibit impaired cell division and growth defects. Thus, LtaS appears to be an attractive antimicrobial target. The pharmacology around LtaS remains largely unexplored with only two small-molecule LtaS inhibitors reported, namely "compound 1771" and the Congo red dye. Structure-based drug discovery efforts against LtaS remain unattempted due to the lack of an inhibitor-bound structure of LtaS. To address this, we combined the use of a molecular docking technique with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to model a plausible binding mode of compound 1771 to the extracellular catalytic domain of LtaS (eLtaS). The model was validated using alanine mutagenesis studies combined with isothermal titration calorimetry. Additionally, lead optimization driven by our computational model resulted in an improved version of compound 1771, namely, compound 4 which showed greater affinity for binding to eLtaS than compound 1771 in biophysical assays. Compound 4 reduced LTA production in S. aureus dose-dependently, induced aberrant morphology as seen for LTA-deficient bacteria, and significantly reduced bacteria titers in the lung of mice infected with S. aureus. Analysis of our MD simulation trajectories revealed the possible formation of a transient cryptic pocket in eLtaS. Virtual screening (VS) against the cryptic pocket led to the identification of a new class of inhibitors that could potentiate β-lactams against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Our overall workflow and data should encourage further drug design campaign against LtaS. Finally, our work reinforces the importance of considering protein conformational flexibility to a successful VS endeavor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism; Teichoic Acids/metabolism
  14. Fulltext Diversity of isoprene-degrading bacteria in phyllosphere and soil communities from a high isoprene-emitting environment: a Malaysian oil palm plantation
    Carrión O, Gibson L, Elias DMO, McNamara NP, van Alen TA, Op den Camp HJM, et al.
    Microbiome, 2020 06 03;8(1):81.
    PMID: 32493439 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00860-7
    BACKGROUND: Isoprene is the most abundantly produced biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) on Earth, with annual global emissions almost equal to those of methane. Despite its importance in atmospheric chemistry and climate, little is known about the biological degradation of isoprene in the environment. The largest source of isoprene is terrestrial plants, and oil palms, the cultivation of which is expanding rapidly, are among the highest isoprene-producing trees.

    RESULTS: DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) to study the microbial isoprene-degrading community associated with oil palm trees revealed novel genera of isoprene-utilising bacteria including Novosphingobium, Pelomonas, Rhodoblastus, Sphingomonas and Zoogloea in both oil palm soils and on leaves. Amplicon sequencing of isoA genes, which encode the α-subunit of the isoprene monooxygenase (IsoMO), a key enzyme in isoprene metabolism, confirmed that oil palm trees harbour a novel diversity of isoA sequences. In addition, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from oil palm soil and leaf metagenomes and putative isoprene degradation genes were identified. Analysis of unenriched metagenomes showed that isoA-containing bacteria are more abundant in soils than in the oil palm phyllosphere.

    CONCLUSION: This study greatly expands the known diversity of bacteria that can metabolise isoprene and contributes to a better understanding of the biological degradation of this important but neglected climate-active gas. Video abstract.

    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism; Butadienes/metabolism
  15. Fulltext Rh proteins and H+ transporters involved in ammonia excretion in Amur Ide (Leuciscus waleckii) under high alkali exposure
    Zhao XF, Huang J, Li W, Wang SY, Liang LQ, Zhang LM, et al.
    Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2024 Mar 15;273:116160.
    PMID: 38432157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116160
    High alkaline environment can lead to respiratory alkalosis and ammonia toxification to freshwater fish. However, the Amur ide (Leuciscus waleckii), which inhabits an extremely alkaline lake in China with titratable alkalinity up to 53.57 mM (pH 9.6) has developed special physiological and molecular mechanisms to adapt to such an environment. Nevertheless, how the Amur ide can maintain acid-base balance and perform ammonia detoxification effectively remains unclear. Therefore, this study was designed to study the ammonia excretion rate (Tamm), total nitrogen accumulation in blood and tissues, including identification, expression, and localization of ammonia-related transporters in gills of both the alkali and freshwater forms of the Amur ide. The results showed that the freshwater form Amur ide does not have a perfect ammonia excretion mechanism exposed to high-alkaline condition. Nevertheless, the alkali form of Amur ide was able to excrete ammonia better than freshwater from Amur ide, which was facilitated by the ionocytes transporters (Rhbg, Rhcg1, Na+/H+ exchanger 2 (NHE2), and V-type H+ ATPase (VHA)) in the gills. Converting ammonia into urea served as an ammonia detoxication strategy to reduced endogenous ammonia accumulation under high-alkaline environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gills/metabolism; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism
  16. Fulltext Changes in biochemical characteristics and activities of ripening associated enzymes in mango fruit during the storage at different temperatures
    Hossain MA, Rana MM, Kimura Y, Roslan HA
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:232969.
    PMID: 25136564 DOI: 10.1155/2014/232969
    As a part of the study to explore the possible strategy for enhancing the shelf life of mango fruits, we investigated the changes in biochemical parameters and activities of ripening associated enzymes of Ashwina hybrid mangoes at 4-day regular intervals during storage at -10°C, 4°C, and 30 ± 1°C. Titratable acidity, vitamin C, starch content, and reducing sugar were higher at unripe state and gradually decreased with the increasing of storage time at all storage temperatures while phenol content, total soluble solid, total sugar, and nonreducing sugar contents gradually increased. The activities of amylase, α-mannosidase, α-glucosidase, and invertase increased sharply within first few days and decreased significantly in the later stage of ripening at 30 ± 1°C. Meanwhile polyphenol oxidase, β-galactosidase, and β-hexosaminidase predominantly increased significantly with the increasing days of storage till later stage of ripening. At -10°C and 4°C, the enzymes as well as carbohydrate contents of storage mango changed slightly up to 4 days and thereafter the enzyme became fully dormant. The results indicated that increase in storage temperature and time correlated with changes in biochemical parameters and activities of glycosidases suggested the suppression of β-galactosidase and β-hexosaminidase might enhance the shelf life of mango fruits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chimera/metabolism*; Plant Proteins/metabolism*
  17. Fulltext Tree shrew lavatories: a novel nitrogen sequestration strategy in a tropical pitcher plant
    Clarke CM, Bauer U, Lee CC, Tuen AA, Rembold K, Moran JA
    Biol Lett, 2009 Oct 23;5(5):632-5.
    PMID: 19515656 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0311
    Nepenthes pitcher plants are typically carnivorous, producing pitchers with varying combinations of epicuticular wax crystals, viscoelastic fluids and slippery peristomes to trap arthropod prey, especially ants. However, ant densities are low in tropical montane habitats, thereby limiting the potential benefits of the carnivorous syndrome. Nepenthes lowii, a montane species from Borneo, produces two types of pitchers that differ greatly in form and function. Pitchers produced by immature plants conform to the 'typical' Nepenthes pattern, catching arthropod prey. However, pitchers produced by mature N. lowii plants lack the features associated with carnivory and are instead visited by tree shrews, which defaecate into them after feeding on exudates that accumulate on the pitcher lid. We tested the hypothesis that tree shrew faeces represent a significant nitrogen (N) source for N. lowii, finding that it accounts for between 57 and 100 per cent of foliar N in mature N. lowii plants. Thus, N. lowii employs a diversified N sequestration strategy, gaining access to a N source that is not available to sympatric congeners. The interaction between N. lowii and tree shrews appears to be a mutualism based on the exchange of food sources that are scarce in their montane habitat.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nitrogen/metabolism*; Angiosperms/metabolism*
  18. Fulltext SARS-CoV-2 and Male Infertility: Possible Multifaceted Pathology
    Dutta S, Sengupta P
    Reprod Sci, 2021 Jan;28(1):23-26.
    PMID: 32651900 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00261-z
    The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11th March 2020. Bulk of research on this virus are carried out to unveil its multivariate pathology. Surprisingly, men are reportedly more vulnerable to COVID-19 even with higher fatality rate compared to women. Thus, it is crucial to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 infection can even affect male fertility as an immediate or long-term consequence of the disease. Among the discrete data available, an important finding is that angiotensin converting enzymes 2 (ACE2) receptor, that aids the SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, is profoundly expressed in testicular cells. In addition, the endogenous androgen milieu and its receptors are associated with ACE2 activation reflecting that enhanced testosterone levels may trigger the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In contrary, hypogonadism has also been reported in the acute phase of some COVID-19 cases. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced uncontrolled inflammatory responses may lead to systemic oxidative stress (OS), whose severe disruptive effects on testicular functions are well-documented. This article aims to precisely present the possible impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive functions, and to highlight the speculations that need in-depth research for the exact underlying mechanisms how COVID-19 is associated with men's health and fertility.
    Matched MeSH terms: Infertility, Male/metabolism; Testis/metabolism
  19. Differential capacity of phragmites ecotypes in remediation of inorganic contaminants in coastal ecosystems: Implications for climate change
    Akhter N, Aqeel M, Shazia, Irshad MK, Shehnaz MM, Lee SS, et al.
    Environ Res, 2024 Apr 15;247:118127.
    PMID: 38220075 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118127
    Remediating inorganic pollutants is an important part of protecting coastal ecosystems, which are especially at risk from the effects of climate change. Different Phragmites karka (Retz) Trin. ex Steud ecotypes were gathered from a variety of environments, and their abilities to remove inorganic contaminants from coastal wetlands were assessed. The goal is to learn how these ecotypes process innovation might help reduce the negative impacts of climate change on coastal environments. The Phragmites karka ecotype E1, found in a coastal environment in Ichkera that was impacted by residential wastewater, has higher biomass production and photosynthetic pigment content than the Phragmites karka ecotypes E2 (Kalsh) and E3 (Gatwala). Osmoprotectant accumulation was similar across ecotypes, suggesting that all were able to successfully adapt to polluted marine environments. The levels of both total soluble sugars and proteins were highest in E2. The amount of glycine betaine (GB) rose across the board, with the highest levels being found in the E3 ecotype. The study also demonstrated that differing coastal habitats significantly influenced the antioxidant activity of all ecotypes, with E1 displaying the lowest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, while E2 exhibited the lowest peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Significant morphological changes were evident in E3, such as an expansion of the phloem, vascular bundle, and metaxylem cell areas. When compared to the E3 ecotype, the E1 and E2 ecotypes showed striking improvements across the board in leaf anatomy. Mechanistic links between architectural and physio-biochemical alterations are crucial to the ecological survival of different ecotypes of Phragmites karka in coastal environments affected by climate change. Their robustness and capacity to reduce pollution can help coastal ecosystems endure in the face of persistent climate change.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism; Poaceae/metabolism
  20. Fulltext Coordination of apicoplast transcription in a malaria parasite by internal and host cues
    Kobayashi Y, Komatsuya K, Imamura S, Nozaki T, Watanabe YI, Sato S, et al.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2023 Jul 11;120(28):e2214765120.
    PMID: 37406097 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214765120
    The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast, which contains its own genome. Regulatory mechanisms for apicoplast gene expression remain poorly understood, despite this organelle being crucial for the parasite life cycle. Here, we identify a nuclear-encoded apicoplast RNA polymerase σ subunit (sigma factor) which, along with the α subunit, appears to mediate apicoplast transcript accumulation. This has a periodicity reminiscent of parasite circadian or developmental control. Expression of the apicoplast subunit gene, apSig, together with apicoplast transcripts, increased in the presence of the blood circadian signaling hormone melatonin. Our data suggest that the host circadian rhythm is integrated with intrinsic parasite cues to coordinate apicoplast genome transcription. This evolutionarily conserved regulatory system might be a future target for malaria treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmodium falciparum/metabolism; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism
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