Search Results (2,019)

Ethanol is a pervasive chemical stressor in fermentative environments and represents a major ecological challenge for Drosophila melanogaster, a species that naturally inhabits decaying fruits. Although ethanol tolerance has traditionally been attributed to detoxification and antioxidant pathways, accumulating evidence indicates that immune-related genes, particularly those encoding immune deficiency (IMD) pathway-associated antimicrobial peptides (IMD-AMPs), contribute importantly to chemical stress adaptation. Previous studies have demonstrated that IMD-AMP induction is required for ethanol tolerance; however, whether elevated IMD-AMP expression alone is sufficient to enhance tolerance has remained unresolved. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of IMD-AMP upregulation in ethanol tolerance using dietary propolis as an experimental immune-modulating agent. D. melanogaster were reared throughout their life cycle on propolis-supplemented diets and subsequently exposed to ethanol. Propolis-fed flies exhibited significantly enhanced survival under ethanol stress compared with control flies. Notably, this increased tolerance was not accompanied by upregulation of classical ethanol metabolism genes or broad induction of antioxidant-related genes. Instead, propolis feeding increased baseline and early-stage expression of IMD-AMP genes, including Diptericin A (DptA), Diptericin B (DptB), Attacin (AttC), and Metchnikowin (Mtk) before and during ethanol exposure. These findings suggest IMD-AMP upregulation is positively associated with enhanced ethanol tolerance in D. melanogaster. Our results establish a proactive role for immune-related pathways in chemical stress resistance and extend the functional scope of AMPs beyond pathogen defense. This study identifies IMD-AMPs as key effectors linking immune activation to physiological adaptation under ethanol-induced chemical stress. Full article

Energy homeostasis requires precise coordination between brain-derived appetitive signals and peripheral nutrient-handling mechanisms. Although Neuropeptide F (NPF) and its mammalian homolog NPY are well-established central stimulators of feeding, whether and how they regulate nutrient assimilation in the gut remains unknown. Here, using Drosophila, we identify a previously unrecognized transcriptional circuit between NPF and the purine synthesis enzyme GART trifunctional enzyme (Gart) that governs feeding by controlling gut absorptive efficiency. We show that NPF signaling acts via its receptor NPFR to positively regulate Gart expression specifically within the intestine. Conversely, Gart activity exerts negative feedback on NPF expression, forming a reciprocal regulatory loop. Functionally, gut-specific, but not glial or fat body-specific, Gart is necessary and sufficient for promoting food absorption and consumption. Genetic epistasis experiments demonstrate that Gart acts downstream of NPF to execute its function. Strikingly, peripheral NPF from the fat body and gut, rather than brain-derived NPF, serves as the primary systemic signal driving this loop. Our findings reveal a gut-centered homeostatic module where NPF activates Gart to boost nutrient absorption, while the resultant feeding activity in turn curbs the signal, ensuring calibrated energy intake. This work redefines a canonical neuropeptide’s role from a pure behavioral driver to a key regulator of peripheral metabolic efficiency, and establishes a novel framework for understanding gut–brain communication in energy balance. Full article

The restriction of antimicrobial growth promoters in livestock production has intensified the search for nutritional strategies that support intestinal health while modulating inflammatory processes. Chronic or dysregulated inflammation can impair gut function and animal performance, highlighting the need for functional feed additives. Brown macroalgae are rich in bioactive compounds with immunomodulatory properties, though their mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and barrier-protective effects of aqueous extracts from Ascophyllum nodosum (AN) and Fucus vesiculosus (FV) were investigated using complementary in vitro and in vivo models. Extracts were prepared by aqueous solid–liquid extraction and tested in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 and THP-1 macrophages, HEK-Blue TLR4 reporter cells, and Drosophila melanogaster models of intestinal inflammation and infection. Both extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. In THP-1 macrophages, AN and FV attenuated secretion of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-33, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CCL7. Reporter assays demonstrated selective inhibition of TLR4-dependent NF-κB activation. In Drosophila melanogaster, supplementation reduced intestinal barrier disruption, mortality, and infection-induced immune activation. Overall, AN and FV attenuate inflammatory signaling and protect intestinal integrity via TLR4-dependent NF-κB inhibition, supporting their potential as functional feed additives to enhance gut health and resilience in livestock. Full article

Insects represent powerful experimental systems for investigating host–microorganism interactions, providing valuable insights into bacterial pathogenicity, immune regulation, symbiosis, and antimicrobial discovery. This review examines the complex relationships between insects and bacteria, focusing on the mechanisms that control infection, immune activation, and microbial adaptation. Particular attention is given to the routes of pathogen entry and to the conserved innate immune pathways that coordinate host defenses, including the Toll, Imd, Duox, and Jak/Stat signaling cascades. The review illustrates how bacterial pathogens exploit toxins, immune evasion strategies, and metabolic adaptation to overcome host defenses, while insects rely on tightly regulated cellular and humoral responses, antimicrobial peptides, melanization, and microbiota-mediated homeostasis. Interactions between pathogenic and commensal bacteria in the insect gut are discussed in the context of immune tolerance, dysbiosis, and ecological adaptation. The dual role of bacterial virulence factors in both pathogenesis and symbiosis is highlighted through examples involving entomopathogenic bacteria such as Photorhabdus spp., Xenorhabdus spp., and Bacillus thuringiensis. In addition, the review summarizes the use of insect models, including Drosophila melanogaster, Galleria mellonella, Bombyx mori, and Apis mellifera, in experimental infections aimed at studying virulence mechanisms, host immune responses, and antimicrobial efficacy. Finally, multi-omic approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and single-cell technologies are discussed as transformative tools for dissecting host–microbe interactions at molecular and systems levels. Overall, insect–bacteria interactions emerge as dynamic and evolutionarily shaped systems in which immunity, metabolism, microbiota composition, and environmental factors are closely interconnected, offering important perspectives for both basic research and the development of sustainable biocontrol and antimicrobial strategies. Full article

Much remains to be learned about how the innate immune system responds following exposure to food allergens, such as peanut. Drosophila melanogaster is an untapped model system for examining this topic because of its conserved innate immune pathways, although it lacks adaptive immunity. The objective of this study was to determine if innate immune-regulated genes within the D. melanogaster genome were transcriptionally regulated by exposure to peanut. RNA samples were analyzed by qRT-PCR and next-generation sequencing. qRT-PCR data shows a significant downregulation of Dorsal and Relish at day 24. Next-generation sequencing data identified a limited number of differentially expressed genes at days 15 and 30, including those involved in structural, metabolic, and digestive functions. Taken together, our data suggests modest and limited transcriptional changes associated with peanut exposure. This study provides an initial framework for investigating how food allergens, such as peanut, likely influence innate immune-associated gene expression. Full article

Aspartate–glutamate carrier 1 (AGC1) deficiency is a rare neurometabolic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in SLC25A12. Clinically, it is characterized by early-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, often associated with hypomyelination and reduced brain N-acetylaspartate. AGC1 loss reduces malate–aspartate shuttle flux, limiting cytosolic NAD⁺ regeneration and impairing neuronal redox coupling, ATP supply, and aspartate-dependent biosynthesis during brain development. We integrate human genetics with mechanistic evidence from mammalian, Drosophila melanogaster, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae models to describe conserved transport principles and species-specific regulation underlying selective central nervous system vulnerability. We review the management of AGC1 deficiency, focusing on ketogenic therapy. Published reports show reproducible seizure reduction and, in some patients, improved myelination and N-acetylaspartate. However, these responses are heterogeneous and appear to depend on the timing, duration, and stability of ketosis. Preclinical evidence suggests that β-hydroxybutyrate may contribute to metabolic support in AGC1 deficiency. Prospective studies should test disease modification using standardized endpoints plus MRI/¹H-MRS and ketosis measures. Full article

The study of genetic effects induced by low-dose alpha radiation associated with radon and its decay progeny is critically important for assessing radiation risks in regions with elevated natural background levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenic effects (in germline cells) and teratogenic effects (in somatic tissues) of alpha radiation using the D. melanogaster model. To differentiate between these effects, teratogenic outcomes were analyzed in directly exposed individuals (phenotypic analysis of adults that developed from irradiated larvae), whereas mutagenic effects were assessed in the progeny of irradiated flies. Larvae and adult flies were exposed to calibrated alpha-particle sources with energies ranging from 4.8 to 7.7 MeV and absorbed doses of 1.90–44.96 mGy. The results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the frequency of morphological abnormalities in the exposed groups, including melanotic masses and deformities of the wings, thorax, and tergites. Under 72 h exposure, a strong correlation between absorbed dose and abnormality frequency was observed (r = 0.98). In the reporter system, induction of GFP expression was detected in imaginal discs at doses above 10 mGy, indicating threshold activation of the cellular stress response. The obtained data demonstrate that chronic low-dose α-irradiation leads to an increased frequency of morphological abnormalities (indirect phenotypic manifestations of compromised genetic stability) in D. melanogaster, with the most pronounced effects observed at the level of morphogenesis. The high sensitivity of the applied test systems was confirmed, supporting the use of D. melanogaster as a bioindicator for ecogenetic monitoring of radon-prone areas, including regions of Kazakhstan. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental contaminants formed during the incomplete combustion of organic material. Their persistence, bioaccumulation, and metabolic activation contribute to mutagenic and cytotoxic outcomes. Among these are benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), the most studied PAH and a benchmark compound for PAH carcinogenicity, and pyrene, a PAH whose urinary metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene is widely used as a biomarker of PAH exposure. B[a]P undergoes CYP1A1-mediated oxidation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via epoxide and quinone redox cycling, whereas pyrene produces ROS primarily through pyrene-quinone redox cycling. We investigated cobinamide, a vitamin B₁₂/cobalamin analog with potent antioxidant properties, for mitigating benzo[a]pyrene- and pyrene-induced injury. In H9C2 rat embryonic cardiomyoblasts and A549 human lung epithelial cells exposed to B[a]P (10 μM) or pyrene (10–100 μM), cobinamide (5–10 μM) attenuated PAH-induced reductions in cell number in both models, while in H9C2 cells, it also attenuated decreases in metabolic activity and reduced apoptosis. Cobinamide also returned JNK/p38 phosphorylation to near baseline levels, decreased DNA and protein oxidation and DNA strand breaks. Transcriptionally, cobinamide suppressed inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and oxidative stress genes (HMOX1 and NOX4), while enhancing oxidative response (SOD2) and xenobiotic metabolism (CYP1A1). In Drosophila melanogaster exposed to 5 mM B[a]P/pyrene, 2 mM cobinamide improved survival and fully restored locomotion, outperforming cobalamin (minimal benefit) and N-acetylcysteine (partial rescue). Spectroscopic analyses showed no direct cobinamide-PAH binding. These findings demonstrate that cobinamide efficiently limits ROS-mediated PAH injury through redox modulation while preserving xenobiotic metabolism, suggesting its potential therapeutic use to mitigate PAH-induced toxicity. Full article

Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; SWD) has become a globally invasive pest by ovipositing in ripening, intact fruit rather than decaying material, a niche distinct from most other drosophilids. An expanding body of work implicates microbes and microbially derived chemistry as key drivers of this ecology, shaping fly biology across life stages. However, much of this evidence is derived from microbiome surveys and observational comparisons, further constrained by uncontrolled diet history, laboratory rearing, and insufficient ecological context. We examine how the SWD microbiome differs in which taxa are present (composition), how flies pick up those taxa from fruit and maternal sources (acquisition), how long those taxa are retained across life stages (persistence), and how each of these varies with diet, geography, season, and host crops. We then address how microbial cues and fermentation state function as context-dependent drivers of adult attraction, avoidance, and oviposition, and how microbe-mediated interspecific interactions reshape substrate suitability and competition among drosophilids. Throughout, we critically evaluate experimental designs and identify gaps that impede causal inference. These include limited strain-level resolution, incomplete fungal characterization, and weak linkages between microbial community structure and host phenotypes. Key unresolved questions include how SWD maintains performance across diverse hosts, how microbes modulate sensory processing during seasonal shifts, and which microbial metabolites drive attraction, avoidance, and competition. Resolving these questions is a direct prerequisite for field-stable integrated pest management (IPM), including microbially informed behavioral lures, oviposition deterrents derived from pathogen- and competitor-associated volatiles, and competitor-mediated suppression strategies. The experimental priorities identified here translate directly into a roadmap for the next generation of mechanistically grounded, ecologically realistic SWD management tools. Full article

Currently, small moving object detection remains a highly challenging problem, primarily attributable to four critical factors: limited pixel coverage, blurred texture features, indistinguishability from small-object-like background features (i.e., false positives), and vulnerability to environmental noise interference. The remarkable sensitivity of the Drosophila visual system to small moving objects, which originates from a specialized type of neuron known as “lobula columnar 11” (LC11), has provided inspiration for addressing this challenge. Current bio-inspired visual models have achieved certain advances. However, detection performance against real-world complex dynamic natural environments still requires further improvement. To address the challenge of limited detection accuracy for small moving objects against real-world complex dynamic natural environments, this paper proposes a Motion Small Object Detection (MSOD) model inspired by the Drosophila Vision Small Object Motion Sensitivity (DVSOMS) mechanism, namely DVSOMS-MSOD. The model consists of four stages: The first stage is preliminary processing of visual stimuli, where visual stimuli are perceived, converted to grayscale, and blurred. The second stage is the motion neural pathway, where visual signals are first decomposed into parallel ON and OFF neural pathway signals; then, the neural feedback mechanism is incorporated between the medulla and lobula complex, and the complete Hassenstein–Reichardt correlator (HRC) is integrated into the lobula complex; finally, the LC11 neuron is utilized to detect small moving objects and extract their location information. The third stage is the contrast neural pathway, where visual signals are first processed by the central and surrounding local neighborhoods, then local contrast information is calculated. The fourth stage is the integration of motion and contrast neural pathways, where the mushroom body generates motion trajectories using the location information of small moving objects, and subsequently generates contrast trajectories using the local contrast information and motion trajectories to more finely detect small moving objects. Under real-world complex dynamic natural environment datasets, compared with conventional machine learning methods for moving object detection, the proposed model achieved improvements of 77.82% and 78.70% in detection performance and output quality, respectively, while reducing running time by 10.60%. Compared with bio-inspired visual models for small moving object detection, the proposed model achieved improvements of 28.24% and 43.15% in detection accuracy and detection performance, respectively, but the running time increased by 43.40%. The proposed model demonstrates certain advantages in detection performance, output quality, and detection accuracy; however, its real-time performance still warrants further optimization. Full article

Background/Objectives: Microalgae are gaining increasing attention as sustainable sources of dietary lipids and other bioactive compounds; however, the relationship between microalgae lipid composition and physiological outcomes in vivo remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to characterize antioxidant activity, total lipid content and fatty acid (FA) profiles of selected freshwater microalgae and to evaluate their dietary impact using Drosophila melanogaster as a whole-organism model. Methods: Four freshwater microalgal species (Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloris limnetica, Scenedesmus communis, and Tetradesmus obliquus) were cultivated separately in 3N-BBM+V medium under controlled laboratory conditions. DPPH, FRAP and TPC were measured in microalgae methanolic extracts. Total lipids were extracted using a modified Breuer method and quantified gravimetrically. FA profiles were determined as fatty acid methyl esters by GC-FID. Freeze-dried microalgal biomass (3 mg/mL) was incorporated into standard D. melanogaster diet. Lifespan and body mass were assessed separately in females and males, as well as fecundity in general. Results: Total lipid content ranged from 17.3% to 28.1% of dry weight, with FA profiles dominated by C16 saturated, monounsaturated (omega-9), and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Correlation analysis indicates that antioxidant properties of the studied microalgae are more closely linked to lipid fractions than to phenolic content. Dietary supplementation with microalgal biomass of three out of four microalgal species significantly extended median lifespan, particularly in males, without adverse effects on body mass or fecundity. Conclusions: These findings indicate that freshwater microalgae can serve as a physiologically safe dietary lipid source. D. melanogaster represents a suitable in vivo model for screening the nutritional potential of microalgal lipids. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by mushrooms may influence interactions with animal consumers, yet the roles of individual compounds and their mixtures remain poorly understood. This study examined odor-mediated behavioral responses of a mycophagous slug and three drosophilid species to mushroom-derived VOCs. Slug feeding avoidances were tested using 43 mushroom species, and tolerance to α-amanitin was evaluated to assess whether avoidance of toxic mushrooms was related to toxin sensitivity. Headspace volatiles from 22 mushroom species (48 samples) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and behavioral assays were conducted to test responses of slugs and flies to selected VOCs and their mixtures. The slug showed complete avoidance only of Amanita pallidorosea and Russula subnigricans, and all individuals survived within the tested α-amanitin dose range, indicating that avoidance was not explained by toxin sensitivity. GC/MS detected 65 VOCs, and fragmented Amanita samples formed a distinct group characterized by sulfide-containing compounds. Dimethyl trisulfide induced strong avoidance in slugs, and repellency increased when compounds were combined. Among flies, avoidance responses were most pronounced in Drosophila melanogaster. These findings indicate that mushroom VOCs can function as chemical repellents and that behavioral sensitivity varies among consumers. Full article

Grape pomace extract (GPE) from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Aglianico is rich in polyphenols with recognized cardioprotective properties, yet its direct electrophysiological effects on spontaneous cardiac activity have not been previously investigated. Here, we examined the chronotropic effects of GPE using two complementary models: HL-1 cardiomyocytes, assessed by whole-cell patch-clamp and intracellular Ca²⁺ imaging, and the Drosophila melanogaster larval heart tube, evaluated by optical recording. In HL-1 cells, chronic treatment with 25 µg/mL GPE for 48 h significantly reduced potential spontaneous action frequency and selectively prolonged the diastolic depolarization phase without altering action potential morphology, depolarization-activated currents, or cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis. GPE reduced the hyperpolarization-activated funny current (I_f) density without shifting its voltage dependence. GPE-treated cells retained cAMP sensitivity, as both isoproterenol and intracellular 8-Br-cAMP significantly increased I_f amplitude, while ELISA quantification confirmed that global cAMP levels were unaffected by GPE. In Drosophila larvae, a cAMP-independent myogenic preparation, GPE administered in the diet significantly reduced heart rate. These findings demonstrate that Aglianico GPE exerts a negative chronotropic effect through a mechanism that reduces functional I_f density without altering cAMP availability or HCN channel voltage dependence, and reveal a cAMP-independent component of action conserved across phylogenetically distant species. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the composition and dual beneficial and toxic effects of Achillea millefolium L., Mentha longifolia L., and Thymus serpyllum L. extracts. The phenolic profile, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and drosopterin eye content (DEC) were determined by modern methods. The viability and developmental time of D. melanogaster were assessed by a diet-dependent viability test. The results show that the phenolic profile varied depending on the extract type and plant species. The TPC ranged between 5.32 and 29.32 mg GAE/g dry weight. All the plant extracts exert antioxidant effect in the applied in vitro tests. In the case of D. melanogaster fed with a normal diet supplement with different concentrations of the plant A. millefolium L. extract, a biphasic effect was observed. A more complex effect was recorded for the M. longifolia L. and T. serpyllum L. extracts. On a high-sugar diet, all the extracts were toxic. All the plant extracts in tested concentrations influenced the DEC, suggesting an impact on gene expression. This study contributes to the expanding knowledge about the beneficial and toxic effects of local medicinal plants, suggesting the need for future studies to elucidate the appropriate use of natural products in therapy. Full article

Binary cell fate decisions in the Drosophila retina generate R8 photoreceptor subtypes that express either blue-sensitive Rh5 or green-sensitive Rh6 opsins. These choices are governed by a Hippo pathway–dependent bistable switch, yet the mechanisms that couple pathway output to terminal opsin expression remain unclear. Here, we identify miR-927 as a regulator that biases R8 subtype fate. Loss of miR-927 increases Rh5-positive pR8 cells, whereas its overexpression promotes Rh6-positive yR8 identity. Mechanistically, miR-927 directly represses the terminal differentiation gene Rh5 and is capable of repressing the Hippo pathway effector yki through its 3′UTR. This dual targeting couples pathway output to terminal gene expression, providing a mechanism to bias and stabilize subtype identity. More broadly, our findings illustrate how microRNAs can be integrated into bistable signaling networks to modulate binary cell fate decisions. Full article