Search Results (61)

The tolerance of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) to plant-derived secondary compounds gradually increases with instars. Therefore, even if plant-based additives are applied at early stages, such as the second or third instar, they may have a differential impact on the ecofriendly control of S. frugiperda. In this study, S. frugiperda larvae were exposed to vanillic acid or sinapic acid at the second and third instar, and physiological and growth parameters were measured. The results showed that the effects of vanillic acid treatment on S. frugiperda were similar at the different instars. They can significantly affect the larval carboxylesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and mixed-function oxidase activities. By reducing larval food intake, food conversion, and utilization efficiency while increasing the food consumption rate, it inhibits weight accumulation. This leads to a significant extension of the development of both the larval and pupal stages, and the adult longevity was reduced. Treatment with sinapic acid at the second instar extended the negative effects on the pupal duration of S. frugiperda when compared to treatment at the third instar, but did not affect adult longevity. Therefore, vanillic acid treatment at the second or third instar stage, can play an important role in the ecofriendly control process of S. frugiperda. The results of this study are of great significance for integrated pest management. Full article

Acrylamide (AA) and nanoplastics (NPs) are common food toxicants. However, their combined toxicity and health risks call for further studies. This study aimed to investigate the combined toxicity of AA and polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) in mice through drinking water exposure. Co-exposure to AA and PS-NPs aggravated colon and liver damage, including more severe inflammatory infiltration, higher levels of colonic and hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines, and elevated serum content of lipopolysaccharide and activities of diamine oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase compared to single exposures. Co-exposure also significantly downregulated the expression of colonic tight-junction genes ZO-1 and Claudin-5. Metabolomics revealed that co-exposure induced more profound metabolic disorders in the liver, particularly affecting amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. 16S amplicon sequencing showed that co-exposure caused more drastic gut microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by a decrease in beneficial bacteria (unclassified_f__Oscillospiraceae, Roseburia, UCG-005, Ruminiclostridium, unclassified_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, Fournierella, and Acetatifactor) and an increase in pathogenic bacteria (Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group and Eubacterium_nodatum_group). Correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between beneficial bacteria and intestinal-liver toxicity indicators and a positive correlation between pathogenic bacteria and these indicators. Overall, our findings showed that AA and PS-NPs exerted synergistic toxicity to the gut–liver axis in mammals, highlighting the higher health risks of their combined ingestion. Full article

We constructed a library of Mpp46Ab mutants, in which S¹⁵³ within the transmembrane β-hairpin was randomly replaced by other amino acids. Mutagenesis and subsequent primary screening yielded 10 different Mpp46Ab mutants in addition to the wild type. Remarkably, S¹⁵³ was replaced with a more hydrophobic amino acid in most of the mutants, and the S153I mutant in particular exhibited significantly increased toxicity. Electrophysiologic analysis using artificial lipid bilayers revealed that the single-channel conductance and P_K/P_Cl permeability ratio were significantly increased for S153I pores. This suggests that the formation of highly ion-permeable and highly cation-selective toxin pores increases the influx of cations and water into cells, thereby facilitating osmotic shock. In addition, the S153F, S153L, and S153I mutants exhibited significantly reduced synergistic toxicity with Cry4Aa. Electrophysiologic analysis showed that the S153F, S153L, and S153I mutants form toxin pores with a significantly reduced P_K/P_Na permeability ratio and a significantly increased P_K/P_Ca permeability ratio compared to wild-type pores. Thus, our results suggest that pore formation is central to the insecticidal activity of Mpp46Ab and that the ion permeability of toxin pores is a potential indicator correlated with both toxicity and synergistic toxicity with other toxins. Full article

Pharmaceutical residues are a result of human activities and are increasingly recognized as environmental contaminants that pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems. There are many well-known pathways (agricultural runoff, veterinary use, human excretion, etc.) for the entry of these pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment, and among them, the inability to remove these biologically active compounds from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents is becoming increasingly significant in the context of societal evolution. Once introduced, pharmaceuticals persist at low concentrations, exerting sub-lethal effects that disrupt the physiological processes of aquatic organisms. Among these effects, oxidative stress (OS) has gained attention as a key mechanism that is induced by pharmaceutical toxicity, serving as a sentinel indicator of homeostatic disturbance. Thus, studying OS biomarkers in fish is crucial for understanding the extent of pharmaceutical pollution, as these biomarkers provide early warning signals of environmental stress and help assess sub-lethal impacts on aquatic organisms. Their application, correlated with other eco-physiological investigations, can improve ecological risk assessments. In this context, this review explores the role of OS biomarkers by assessing the effects of pharmaceutical contaminants on fish. It highlights the utility and limitations of these biomarkers for environmental monitoring, while also identifying key research gaps—particularly regarding long-term ecological consequences. Full article

The increasing demand for agricultural products has led to a rise in pesticide use, resulting in the pollution of aquatic habitats and raising significant health concerns for both aquatic life and humans. Difenoconazole, a triazole fungicide, is becoming increasingly popular in agriculture, yet its effects on non-target organisms, such as annelids, are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the toxicological effects of difenoconazole and assess its potential impact on toxicity biomarkers, using Tubifex tubifex as a model organism, to better understand the ecotoxicity of difenoconazole on freshwater annelids. The 96-h LC₅₀ value of difenoconazole was determined to be 2.68 mg/L. Sublethal concentrations (10% and 20% of the 96-h LC₅₀ value; 0.268 and 0.536 mg/L, respectively) caused significant changes in the activities of oxidative stress enzymes. A concentration- and time-dependent decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione transferase (GST) was observed compared to control organisms. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations increased throughout the exposure period. An Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) assessment was used to characterize and illustrate the impact of difenoconazole on T. tubifex. In conclusion, exposure to this fungicide appears to reduce the survival rate of T. tubifex at acute levels and disrupt its normal behavioral patterns. Moreover, it alters oxidative stress enzyme levels during sublethal exposure. Long-term exposure to the fungicide could potentially have population-level consequences, including a reduction in the number of individuals within a population. Full article

While two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, such as Caco-2 and Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells are widely used in a variety of biological models, these two-dimensional in vitro systems present inherent limitations in replicating the complexities of in vivo biology. Recent progress in three-dimensional organoid technology has the potential to address these limitations. In this study, the characteristics of conventional 2D cell culture systems were compared to those of canine intestinal organoids (enteroids, ENT, and colonoids, COL). Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were employed to evaluate the microanatomy of ENT, COL, Caco-2, and MDCK cell monolayers, while transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values were measured to assess monolayer integrity. The TEER values of canine ENT monolayers more closely approximated reported TEER values for human small intestines compared to Caco-2 and MDCK monolayers. Additionally, canine ENT demonstrated greater monolayer stability than Caco-2 and MDCK cells. Notably, while all systems displayed desmosomes, canine ENT and COL exclusively produced mucus. These findings highlight the potential of the canine organoid system as a more biologically relevant model for in vitro studies, addressing the limitations of conventional 2D cell culture systems. Full article

IMC has been reported to influence embryo implantation negatively in animals including rats. While EBN has been known to have a potential protective effect against reproductive toxicity, there is limited study on the effect of EBN on IMC toxicity in reproduction. This study aimed to ascertain whether pretreatment with a natural substance, Edible Bird’s Nest (EBN), will reduce IMC-induced toxicity in pregnant rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats divided into five equal groups were treated with EBN and IMC as follows: G1 = Control, G2 = IMC (4.33 mg/kg), G3 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg + 60 mg/kg), G4 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg + 90 mg/kg), and G5 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg +120 mg/kg). EBN was administered once daily for 8 weeks while IMC was injected subcutaneously. On day 8 after mating, all rats were sacrificed for blood sampling and embryo implantation rate (EIR) assessment; the uterine tissues were also subjected to immunohistochemical and histological analyses. G5 recorded significantly higher EIR, fertility index, and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the uterine section, across stroma cells, the glandular epithelium, and the luminal epithelium compared to control and other groups. IMC-induced inflammatory alterations, endometrial atrophy, vacuolar degeneration, and atrophy were not detected in uterine tissue sections in G4 and G5, with the latter group demonstrating the highest EIR with protective effects on uterine tissues. Thus, EBN supplementation might be of great benefit in guarding the fertility of individuals who depend on IMC for the treatment of chronic inflammatory illness. Full article

To obtain lead-resistant microorganisms as potential strains for bioremediation, in this study, a strain of fungus with high resistance to lead was isolated and domesticated from lead-contaminated soil, which was cultured and molecularly biologically identified as the genus Sarocladium Pb-9 (GenBank No. MK372219). The optimal incubation time of strain Pb-9 was 96 h, the optimal incubation temperature was 25 °C, and the optimal incubation pH was 7. The strain Pb-9 had a good adsorption effect on Pb²⁺ at a lead concentration of 2000 mg/L; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observed that the spores of the Pb-9 strain appeared to be wrinkled and deformed under Pb²⁺ stress, and XRD analysis showed that the mycelium of Pb-9 adsorbed Pb²⁺; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that the Pb-9 strain might produce substances such as esters and polysaccharides under the treatment of different Pb²⁺ concentrations. The above results showed that strain Pb-9 has good resistance and adsorption capacity to lead. Therefore, it has potential application value in the bioremediation of environmental heavy metal pollution, and this study provides a fundamental basis for the bioremediation of lead pollution in the environment. Full article

Peroxisomes are crucial for fatty acid β-oxidation in steatosis, but the role of pexophagy—the selective autophagy of peroxisomes—remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) agonist clofibrate on pexophagy in a coconut oil-based high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis model. Rats were divided into four groups: control, clofibrate, HFD, and HFD with clofibrate. The HFD induced steatosis, along with a 2.4-fold increase in pexophagy receptor NBR1-positive granules in hepatocytes. Clofibrate significantly inhibited HFD-induced steatosis, increasing p62-, LAMP2-, and Pex5-positive granules by 7.5-, 7.2-, and 71.4-fold, respectively, while decreasing NBR1 expression. The effects were associated with peroxisome proliferation and pexophagy in ultrastructural observations and increased levels of Lc3, p62, Pex2, Pex14, Acox1, and Scd1 in gene expression analysis. The results suggested that clofibrate effectively reduced steatosis through combined peroxisome proliferation and pexophagy, though it had a marginal impact on hepatocarcinogenesis in coconut oil-based HFD-fed rats. These findings highlight the utility of PPARα agonists in studying mammalian pexophagy. Full article

Maha Pigut Triphala is the herbal mixture of three fruits consisting of T. bellirica, T. chebula, and E. officinalis also known as P. emblica. Humans regularly eat the fresh fruits of these plants on a daily basis. Maha Pigut Triphala is one of the widely known herbal medicinal formulas used in traditional Thai medicine. Besides studying pharmacological properties, attention should also be paid to the safety and toxicity studies of herbal medicines. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the acute and chronic oral toxicity of Maha Pigut Triphala (2:1:3) in Sprague-Dawley rats. A single dose of Maha Pigut Triphala at a concentration of 5000 mg/kg body weight was administered orally to female rats in the acute oral toxicity study. In the chronic oral toxicity study, male and female rats were treated with various concentrations of Maha Pigut Triphala (600, 1200, and 2400 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 270 consecutive days. The presence of abnormalities in the symptoms and behavior of the rats were observed and recorded throughout the experiment. Additionally, body weight, organ weight, and mortality were recorded. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for hematological and blood chemistry analysis, while the internal organs were evaluated for gross pathological and histopathological changes. The acute oral toxicity study revealed no mortality and abnormal symptoms or behavior in Maha Pigut Triphala-treated rats. Moreover, gross pathological and histopathological findings did not reveal any abnormalities in the internal organs. In the chronic oral toxicity evaluation, although there were negligible changes in body weight, organ weight, and hematological and blood chemistry parameters in rats treated with Maha Pigut Triphala for 270 days, no behavioral or gross pathological and histopathological abnormalities were observed. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that Maha Pigut Triphala (2:1:3) neither causes acute nor chronic oral toxicity in rats, proposing the safety of this herbal formula in animals prior to human trials and use. Full article

Copaifera sp. is a native tree in the Amazon region. Copaiba oleoresin has components such as sesquiterpenes, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of liver disease with limited therapeutic options. We aimed to evaluate the effect of copaiba oleoresin supplementation on the liver of animals with thioacetamide (TAA)-induced cirrhosis. For the induction of liver cirrhosis, 100 mg/kg of TAA was administered intraperitoneally twice a week for 8 weeks. A total of 200 mg/kg/day of copaiba oleoresin was administered via gavage for the same period. Copaiba oleoresin supplementation improved cirrhosis-associated cachexia by increasing weight gain and body fat. In addition, copaiba oleoresin attenuated systemic inflammation, as shown by the decrease in the circulating C-reactive protein. In the liver, the copaiba oleoresin decreased carbonyl proteins and increased IL-10 compared with TAA-treated rats. TAA groups demonstrated increased SOD, catalase, GST, and GSH activity in the liver. In conclusion, the supplementation of copaiba oleoresin demonstrated a beneficial systemic effect in alleviating cirrhotic cachexia and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action in the liver. However, it failed to improve the serological and histological markers of liver damage, which could be associated with the advanced stage of the disease. Full article

Proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib and carfilzomib induce apoptosis and are a cornerstone in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. However, concerns have emerged concerning their link to cancer therapy-related cardiovascular dysfunction (CTRCD). Bortezomib, a reversible first-generation inhibitor, and carfilzomib, a second-generation irreversible inhibitor, are associated with hypertension, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. The current study investigated the effects of bortezomib and carfilzomib on cardiac (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF) and vascular (arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity) function. Cardiac function assessment aimed to build upon existing evidence of proteasome inhibitors CTRCD, while arterial stiffness served as an early indicator of potential vascular remodeling. Groups of 12-week-old C57BL/6J male mice (n = 8 per group) were randomly assigned to receive vehicle, carfilzomib (8 mg/kg I.P.), or bortezomib (0.5 mg/kg I.P.). Additionally, proteasome inhibition was assessed in mice treated with L-NAME (0.5 mg/kg) to induce hypertension. Cardiac and vascular parameters were evaluated via echocardiography on days 0 and 3. On day 6, mice were sacrificed for ex vivo analysis of arterial stiffness and vascular reactivity. Overall, no changes in arterial stiffness were detected either in vivo or ex vivo at basal pressures. However, a steeper pressure–stiffness curve was observed for carfilzomib in normotensive (p < 0.01) and hypertensive (p < 0.0001) mice ex vivo. Additionally, in hypertensive mice, carfilzomib decreased LVEF (p = 0.06), with bortezomib exhibiting similar trends. Vascular reactivity remained largely unchanged, but proteasome inhibition tended to enhance endothelial-independent relaxations in both control and hypertensive mice. In conclusion, short-term treatment with carfilzomib and bortezomib is considered relatively safe for the protocols assessed in the study. Full article

Integrated pest management based on the use of biopesticides is largely applied. Experimental bioassays are critical to assess biopesticide biosafety at the ecotoxicological level. In this study, we investigated the effects of the new Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk)-formulated-based biopesticides BLB1 and Lip, efficiently tested in field assays (IPM-4-CITRUS EC project no. 734921) on two aquatic non-target organisms, precisely the water flea Daphnia magna and the bioluminescent bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri. Acute toxicity studies, carried out in a comparative manner with Delfin^® as the reference bioproduct and the lactose-based Blank formulation, show that no significant toxicity was observed up to 1 g/L. Our results indicated that BLB1- and Lip-formulated new bioproducts are far less toxic than the Delfin^® reference bioproduct. Full article

Mercury (Hg) has been extensively studied due to its impact on the environment and health, but its effects on wild mammal populations are still poorly known. Therefore, the use of biomonitors has gained importance. Our objective was to report and compare, for the first time, the amount of mercury in small mammals belonging to three trophic guilds and to provide an initial toxicology perspective in the Mezquital Valley, a critically polluted area of Central Mexico. We quantified total Hg from the hair and liver of a nectarivorous bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), an insectivorous bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) and a granivorous mouse (Peromyscus melanophrys) using atomic absorption spectrometry during the dry and rainy seasons. We compared the mercury concentrations between seasons, species and matrices. In all species, the average mercury content was higher in hair than liver, and there was no correlation between matrices. There was no difference in mercury content among species. Hg concentrations in the livers of P. melanophrys and C. townsendii were lower during the dry season than the rainy season, suggesting a seasonal decline in mercury availability. All of the values detected were below the neurotoxicity threshold reported in small mammals (10 ppm); however, we propose constant monitoring of Hg in their environment and confirm the utility of these species as biomonitors. Full article

The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant vector for many pathogens and parasites. Presence of this vector causes economic losses due to decreased feeding activity in livestock, resulting in reduced yields of products. The repeated and unconscious application of chemical insecticides has resulted in the development of resistance in the majority of house fly populations worldwide. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of two field M. domestica populations to cyfluthrin and etofenprox in Antalya, Türkiye. The LD₅₀ values, resistance ratios, and resistance status were determined by exposing adult house flies to the test chemicals for one hour. The Kemer population exhibited very low resistance to cyfluthrin, with a 5-fold increase, while the Serik population, in contrast, showed moderate resistance with a 29.67-fold increase. The resistance ratios of field populations to etofenprox were 2.33-fold (no resistance) for Kemer and 6.44-fold (very low resistance) for Serik, respectively. This is the first study to determine the resistance levels of house flies against cyfluthrin and etofenprox insecticides in Türkiye. To prevent or reduce the development of resistance to insecticides in house flies, integrated control methods and resistance management programs should be employed. Furthermore, it is advised that regular monitoring tests be conducted to observe the level of resistance. Full article