Search Results (487)

Planktothrix species are among the most widespread bloom-forming cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems and are of particular concern because of their ability to produce cyanotoxins and form persistent harmful algal blooms (HABs). Among them, Planktothrix agardhii and Planktothrix rubescens are the most extensively studied species and are responsible for a large proportion of bloom events reported in European lakes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the taxonomy, ecophysiology, toxin production, environmental drivers, species interactions, and management of Planktothrix blooms, with a particular focus on European freshwater ecosystems. The available evidence highlights marked ecological differences between the two dominant species. P. agardhii is primarily associated with shallow, eutrophic, and well-mixed lakes, whereas P. rubescens is typically found in deep, stratified, and relatively transparent water bodies, where it forms persistent metalimnetic populations. These contrasting ecological strategies influence bloom development, toxin dynamics, detection, and management. Nutrient availability, light climate, temperature, water column stability, and biological interactions all contribute to bloom establishment and persistence, while climate change is expected to further modify bloom frequency, duration, and geographic distribution. The review also examines current monitoring and mitigation approaches, highlighting the limitations of conventional surface-based surveys for detecting deep P. rubescens populations and emphasizing the need for integrated monitoring strategies combining depth-resolved sampling, molecular tools, and toxin analyses. Overall, understanding the ecological and physiological diversity of Planktothrix species is essential for improving risk assessment, developing effective management measures, and mitigating the impacts of cyanobacterial blooms in European freshwaters. Full article

In December 2022, 196 nations around the world committed to protecting at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas and marine and coastal areas by 2030, one of the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The ‘30 × 30’ target is one of the most ambitious conservation targets committed to at a global level, and some countries have also made policy commitments to achieve this target at a national level, including Australia. Australia is making progress towards this target, with 22.57% of Australia’s land already protected in 2024 (up from 7% in the mid-1990s), and support across federal, state and territory jurisdictions for a coordinated national approach. To protect at least an additional 57.2 million hectares of land to meet the 30% coverage target in an ecologically representative manner, clear pathways are required. This article makes the case for the most effective and efficient pathways for Australia to achieve its 30 × 30 ambitions, based on past successful science-informed policy and practice. Four key pathways are outlined. These are (1) establish a new dedicated AU$5 billion fund for the purchase of land of high biodiversity importance to create new public, private or Indigenous protected areas; (2) continue to support the creation of new Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) to meet Traditional Owner demand and establish secure long-term funding for IPA management; (3) increase support for the uptake of permanent conservation covenants on private and leasehold land through federal government support for covenant programs, particularly in ecologically under-represented bioregions, develop enhanced protection conservation covenants, and review federal and state tax and financial incentives and barriers to private land conservation; and (4) systematically review public land to identify areas of high conservation significance and subsequent protected area opportunities. Aspects of Australia’s past and potential future approach to meeting area-based protection targets could be useful for other nations as they aim to contribute to the global 30 × 30 target. Full article

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects approximately 280 million people worldwide, yet conventional pharmacotherapy achieves remission in only 30–50% of patients, intensifying the search for novel biological substrates. This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines across six electronic databases (2014–March 2025), synthesised 89 studies examining gut microbiota composition in adults with MDD compared to healthy controls. MDD was consistently associated with reduced alpha diversity and a recurrent dysbiotic pattern, herein proposed as a depressive dysbiosis signature, characterised by depletion of butyrate-producing genera (Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Eubacterium, Coprococcus) and enrichment of pro-inflammatory taxa (Alistipes, Eggerthella, Streptococcus). While this pattern was observed across multiple cohorts, significant inter-study heterogeneity precludes its definition as a universal microbial signature for MDD. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated robust compositional separation between cohorts. Plausible mechanistic pathways included compromised short-chain fatty acid production, increased intestinal permeability, low-grade systemic inflammation, tryptophan shunting toward the kynurenine pathway, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation. Preclinical faecal microbiota transplantation provided translational evidence consistent with a causal interpretation, while randomised probiotic trials demonstrated significant reductions in depressive symptom severity compared with placebo. Probiotic effects are strain-specific according to ISAPP consensus; generalisation across strains is not warranted. Gut microbiota dysbiosis represents a biologically plausible mediator of depression pathophysiology, with a recurrent dysbiotic pattern, characterised by depletion of butyrate-producing taxa and enrichment of pro-inflammatory genera, showing emerging diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Full article

Polystyrene (PS), particularly expanded polystyrene (EPS), is an environmentally significant commodity polymer that contributes substantially to secondary microplastic and nanoplastic pollution through environmental weathering and fragmentation. During aging, PS undergoes nano-scale physicochemical transformations, including chain scission, surface oxidation, and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups, which profoundly influence its environmental fate, microbial colonization, and biodegradation behavior. Conventional remediation technologies remain energy-intensive and often fail to achieve complete mineralization, highlighting the need for sustainable and integrated remediation strategies. Recent studies have demonstrated that diverse microorganisms, including Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Bacillus, and Exiguobacterium, can colonize PS surfaces and initiate oxidative depolymerization through extracellular biofilm formation and oxidative enzymes such as styrene monooxygenase, laccases, and peroxidases. In parallel, insect-based systems, particularly Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, provide unique biological platforms in which gut microbiota facilitate partial PS degradation and mineralization through synergistic host–microbe interactions. This review critically integrates recent advances in nano-scale PS transformation, microbial colonization, oxidative enzymatic pathways, insect gut-mediated biodegradation, and advanced analytical techniques used to characterize degradation processes. Emphasis is placed on nano–bio interactions and emerging nanotechnology-enabled remediation strategies, including engineered microbial consortia, biofilm-based bioreactors, and nanomaterial-assisted treatment systems. Finally, current limitations and future research priorities are discussed, including degradation kinetics, byproduct toxicity, standardized evaluation methods, and the integration of biological and nanomaterial-based approaches for scalable PS microplastic remediation. Full article

Avian orthoreovirus (ARV) has re-emerged as one of the most important viral pathogens affecting modern poultry production worldwide. In China, the epidemiological landscape of ARV has undergone a substantial transformation over the past decade, characterized by increasing genotypic diversity, frequent genome reassortment, an expanding host range, and recurrent vaccine-breakthrough outbreaks. Growing evidence indicates that contemporary ARV populations evolve within a dynamic multispecies transmission network shaped by intensive poultry production, host adaptation, and vaccine-associated selective pressures. Recent molecular studies have revealed extensive genetic heterogeneity among circulating strains and highlighted the limitations of conventional σC-based classification systems for accurately describing viral evolution, pathogenicity, and antigenic diversity. Whole-genome analyses further demonstrate that reassortment among chicken-origin, duck-origin, and goose-origin orthoreoviruses plays a pivotal role in generating novel viral variants with altered biological properties. In parallel, accumulating evidence suggests that ARV exerts broad immunomodulatory effects through the disruption of innate antiviral signaling, impairment of lymphoid organ function, interference with vaccine responsiveness, and the enhancement of susceptibility to secondary infections. These findings indicate that ARV should be regarded not only as an arthrotropic pathogen but also as an important immunopathological agent influencing flock health and productivity. This review summarizes current knowledge of ARV in China, with an emphasis on molecular epidemiology, genomic evolution, reassortment mechanisms, transmission ecology, immune interference, vaccine escape, and integrated prevention strategies. Particular attention is given to the increasing importance of whole-genome surveillance, phylodynamic analysis, and multispecies epidemiological monitoring for understanding contemporary ARV evolution. Future perspectives involving structural vaccinology, precision immunization, metagenomics-assisted surveillance, and predictive evolutionary modeling are also discussed. Collectively, sustainable ARV control will likely require genome-informed and adaptive prevention frameworks integrating virology, immunology, epidemiology, and precision poultry management. Full article

Semi-synthetic cannabinoids (SSCs) are chemically modified derivatives of naturally occurring phytocannabinoids that have rapidly emerged in commercial cannabis and hemp-derived products, including vape cartridges, edibles, infused oils, and concentrated extracts. Increasing availability of compounds such as hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), HHC analogues, and Δ⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸-THC) has created significant challenges for forensic toxicology, analytical detection, public health surveillance, and regulatory control. This structured narrative review evaluated current evidence on the forensic, toxicological, pharmacological, and analytical implications of SSCs. The literature published between January 2019 and May 2026 was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using predefined search terms related to SSCs, forensic toxicology, analytical detection, intoxication, metabolism, and public health. Recent evidence demonstrates that HHC-related compounds currently dominate the SSC market and scientific literature. Available studies indicate that SSCs undergo extensive Phase I and Phase II metabolism, producing hydroxylated, oxidized, and glucuronidated metabolites that frequently predominate over parent compounds in biological matrices. This metabolic complexity complicates forensic interpretation, particularly in postmortem investigations and impairment assessments where toxicological reference ranges remain poorly established. Emerging intoxication reports describe prolonged sedation, neuropsychiatric manifestations, cognitive impairment, and severe poisoning associated with HHC analogues, although much of the current evidence remains limited to case reports and small observational studies. From an analytical perspective, conventional toxicology screening methods may fail to detect SSC exposure, necessitating advanced analytical approaches such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and chiral chromatographic techniques for metabolite identification and epimer differentiation. However, limited reference standards, evolving structural diversity, and regulatory variability across jurisdictions continue to hinder standardized detection and interpretation. Overall, SSCs represent a rapidly evolving class of psychoactive compounds requiring coordinated advancements in forensic toxicology, analytical surveillance, pharmacological characterization, and public health monitoring to improve detection reliability, risk assessment, and regulatory response. Full article

Radiotherapy (RT) has traditionally been considered a local treatment modality; however, accumulating evidence suggests that it can induce systemic antitumor responses outside the irradiated field. The classical abscopal effect, defined as the regression of non-irradiated tumor lesions following localized RT, has gained renewed attention in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that RT can promote immunogenic cell death, antigen presentation, cytokine release, and adaptive immune activation, processes that may contribute to systemic antitumor immunity, particularly when combined with ICIs. Clinically apparent abscopal responses remain rare and heterogeneous, and the biological mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not completely understood. Systemic tumor regression has occasionally been observed in clinical settings that do not involve checkpoint blockade, including RT alone, chemotherapy-containing regimens, and central nervous system-directed therapies. These findings suggest that radiation-associated systemic antitumor responses may arise through overlapping immunologic mechanisms involving both innate and adaptive immunity, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and treatment-associated cellular stress. This review summarizes the current clinical evidence and biological mechanisms underlying radiation-associated systemic antitumor responses and discusses emerging concepts extending beyond the conventional RT–immunotherapy paradigm. We further examined unresolved challenges, including treatment heterogeneity, biomarker limitations, pseudoprogression, and difficulties in mechanistic confirmation. Finally, we propose that the broader “beyond-abscopal” framework may serve as a hypothesis-generating conceptual model for investigating systemic tumor responses across diverse treatment contexts while emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation and prospective translational validation. Full article

The regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex remains a significant challenge in regenerative endodontics. While conventional therapeutic approaches are effective in eliminating infection and preserving dental structure, they fail to restore the biological functionality of the pulp tissue. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing and biopolymer-based bioprinting have opened unprecedented opportunities in dental tissue engineering, enabling the fabrication of biomimetic scaffolds with precisely controlled structural and bioactive properties. This review synthesizes current advances in bioprinting technologies, the diversity of biomaterials and bioinks employed, and the various stem cell sources utilized in pulp regeneration. It further examines how the three-dimensional microenvironment modulates cell viability, odontogenic differentiation, and the promotion of angiogenesis and neurogenesis, emphasizing the role of scaffold composition, mechanical properties, and internal architecture in influencing regenerative outcomes. Additionally, persistent challenges are discussed, including the optimization of bioink formulations, the achievement of functional vascular integration, and long-term validation of regenerated tissues, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary strategies to facilitate clinical translation. By integrating recent evidence, this review establishes a conceptual framework for the development of personalized and predictable approaches to dentin-pulp complex reconstruction. Full article

Conventional chemical analysis relies on costly laboratory instrumentation, while current e-nose systems are expensive for widespread deployment. New opportunities for low-cost, accessible e-nose applications are emerging for diverse fields due to the rapid evolution of inexpensive sensor technologies. We developed a framework that enables rapid integration of newly available low-cost gas sensors into functional e-nose systems, continuously evaluating them as they become commercially available. By characterizing their performance in multi-sensor arrays that mimic biological olfaction, the framework demonstrates effective odor discrimination in a low-cost e-nose system through coordinated behavior of a heterogeneous sensor array. Our testing approach includes sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, which are to be combined with appropriate pattern recognition and AI algorithms in the future for effective chemical discrimination. This work provides a pathway for continuously updating e-nose technology with the latest available sensors in a cost-effective manner, thereby making advanced chemical sensing accessible for resource-limited settings and enabling large-scale deployment in real-world applications with future potential applications such as food quality monitoring, environmental sensing, smart agriculture, etc. Full article

Natural compounds are increasingly explored as complementary strategies to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduce toxicity. Among these are isothiocyanates (ITCs), bioactive metabolites derived from glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables, which have gained substantial attention for their chemopreventive and antileukemic potential. ITCs exert diverse biological effects driven by the high reactivity of the –NCS group, enabling covalent modification of key cellular proteins and modulation of signaling pathways. Well-studied representatives, including sulforaphane (SFN), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), exhibit diverse antileukemic activities, including cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic, differentiation-inducing, and cell-cycle-modulating effects. Although individual compounds differ in their relative potency and predominant biological responses, their activities are generally mediated through multiple interconnected mechanisms including oxidative stress modulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, regulation of apoptosis-related proteins, and interference with key signaling pathways. In addition to apoptosis, several ITCs have also been reported to induce autophagy, ferroptosis, or cellular differentiation in leukemic cells. Taken together, the existing evidence highlights ITCs as promising candidates for leukemia chemoprevention or therapy, acting through multi-targeted mechanisms that may complement conventional treatment strategies. Further studies are needed to clarify their selectivity, mechanistic diversity, and translational potential. Full article

The growing availability of genomic resources is changing how genetic diversity is studied in Vitis vinifera L. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that a single reference genome cannot fully represent the complexity of a species characterised by high heterozygosity, clonal propagation and a long history of diversification. Recent grapevine pangenomes, super-pangenomes and graph-based resources have revealed forms of variation that are often overlooked in conventional reference-based analyses, including structural variants and gene presence–absence variation. Rather than providing another inventory of available datasets, this review examines how continued reliance on a single reference genome may influence the interpretation of grapevine diversity and what can be gained from a broader pangenomic perspective. Drawing on recent studies in grapevine and other crops, we discuss how these approaches are beginning to improve the representation of genetic diversity, uncover biologically relevant variation and strengthen links between genomic information and adaptive traits. We also examine the challenges that still limit their practical use, particularly the integration of genomic resources with functional studies and breeding programmes. In the end, the value of pangenomics will probably depend not only on generating additional genomic resources, but also on how effectively these can be translated into tools that support grapevine conservation, climate adaptation and varietal improvement. Full article

Background: Cancer pain affects approximately 44.5% of all patients with malignancy and up to 55–65% of those with advanced or metastatic disease; a substantial proportion remain inadequately controlled with conventional pharmacological approaches alone. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), a minimally invasive neuromodulatory strategy, has emerged as a potential opioid-sparing analgesic option for the perioperative management of oncologic surgical patients. Objectives: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the application, mechanisms, clinical efficacy, safety, and integration of temporary and permanent PNS systems in cancer patients, with specific focus on cancer-specific pain syndromes, key clinical studies, opioid-sparing immunological implications, evidence quality, and directions for future research. Methods: As a narrative review, this work was structured in accordance with the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) to ensure methodological transparency. A focused, non-systematic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed from database inception through March 2026, supplemented by hand-searching of reference lists and targeted retrieval of clinical practice guidelines. Sources were selected on the basis of relevance to PNS or closely analogous peripheral neurostimulation modalities in oncologic, perioperative, or chronic pain contexts. Evidence was synthesized narratively, with each cited study graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) 2011 Levels of Evidence framework to enable transparent calibration of confidence. Results: Available preliminary and largely extrapolated evidence supports PNS as a promising but not yet established useful adjunct in oncologic perioperative care; because cancer-specific data rest substantially on a single pilot study (n = 12), one retrospective review (n = 15), and extrapolation from non-cancer populations, these conclusions should be regarded as hypothesis-generating. Randomized controlled trial data from non-cancer cohorts demonstrate opioid consumption reductions of approximately 80–90% in the PAINfRE trial, while the post-amputation trial demonstrated ≥50% pain-relief responder rates and reductions in pain interference, with clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function. Oncologic-specific pilot and retrospective evidence confirms feasibility and a 58–67% success rate across diverse cancer pain subtypes. Conclusions: The opioid-sparing properties of PNS carry additional biological plausibility for preserving perioperative antitumor immune function. High-quality prospective trials specifically designed for oncologic surgical populations remain needed to establish evidence-based recommendations. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasingly associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and the presence of specific bacterial pathogens. This study evaluated the in vitro growth-inhibitory activity of 18 biologically active compounds, including phytochemicals, synthetic analogs, and clinically used antibiotics, against CRC-associated bacterial strains. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the broth microdilution method and analyzed in relation to chemical structure. Conventional antibiotics, particularly tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity. Among non-antibiotic compounds, nitroxoline and carbadox showed moderate activity, whereas quaternary benzylisoquinoline-derived alkaloids and polyphenols were less effective. Structure–activity relationship analysis suggested that aromatic heterocyclic scaffolds, electron-withdrawing substituents, and metal-chelating groups contribute to antibacterial potency. We obtained novel MIC data for several compounds, including ferron and oxyquinoline, against underexplored CRC-associated bacterial strains. These findings expand current knowledge of the antibacterial activity of structurally diverse compounds against CRC-associated bacteria and provide a basis for future studies on microbiota-targeted antimicrobial strategies. Full article

Bovine endometritis remains one of the most significant postpartum uterine disorders. It impairs uterine recovery, compromises fertility, and causes substantial economic losses in dairy production. Growing evidence suggests that the disease cannot be attributed solely to postpartum bacterial contamination; rather, it should be understood as a multifactorial failure to restore uterine homeostasis after calving. This review summarises the latest research findings on six interconnected aspects: the clinical significance of postpartum uterine disease; the diagnostic and biological differences between clinical and subclinical endometritis; the role of microbes in the uterus in health and disease; interactions between the host and uterine bacteria; the mechanisms of persistent inflammatory regulation; and current as well as emerging treatment strategies. Current evidence indicates that postpartum uterine disease is more strongly associated with dysbiosis, reduced microbial diversity, and disturbed microbial succession than with the presence of any single pathogen. Disease progression is driven by complex interplay among microbial ligands, epithelial and stromal immune responses, virulence-associated tissue injury, endocrine disruption, and impaired inflammatory resolution. Furthermore, persistent uterine inflammation is regulated by multilayered networks involving cytokines, prostaglandins, noncoding RNAs, extracellular vesicles, metabolic remodeling, and oxidative stress. Although conventional therapies remain relevant in certain clinical cases, microbiota-oriented approaches, particularly probiotic interventions, have emerged as promising adjunctive strategies for the prevention and control of the condition. Overall, bovine endometritis should be viewed as a disorder caused by disrupted interactions between the host, microbiota and inflammation. Future progress will depend on longitudinal, strain-resolved, and function-oriented studies to enable more precise and less antimicrobial-dependent interventions for postpartum uterine health. Full article

The high-rate biological contactor (HRBC) is an enhanced-primary, biosorption-based, carbon-diversion wastewater treatment process with short hydraulic retention time (HRT), short solids retention time (SRT), low dissolved oxygen (DO), and high food-to-microorganism ratio (F/M). This paper presents modifications to a commercial full-plant wastewater biodegradation model using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in waste activated sludge (WAS) to simulate pilot test biosorption data. Bench-scale HRBC tests found that each mg of EPS as COD (COD_EPS) biosorbed 1.02 mg sCOD contained in raw wastewater. The fraction of AS organics identified as EPS in terms of COD was 37% in a conventional AS (CAS), 33% in a trickling filter-solids contact (TF/SC), and 18% in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The modeling process used stoichiometry equations to convert EPS from its constituent concentrations (carbohydrates, proteins, humic acids, uronic acids) into COD. The conversion did not alter the finding that the normalized total EPS showed a positive relationship with soluble chemical oxygen demand sCOD biosorption with a 0.91 coefficient of determination. The modified commercial biodegradation model gave a maximum error of −12.6% when simulating pilot-scale results, and 80% of all data points were less than ±10% error. The modified model predicted 16% sCOD biosorption by EPS using the design data for a full-scale HRBC facility currently under construction. Full article