Search Results (1,747)

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is essential in beekeeping practices but its optimal dosage and physiological effects on honey bees remain unclear. This study examined CO₂ tolerance and molecular responses across three developmental stages: newly emerged, nurse, and forager bees, using gradient exposure and proteomic analysis. Newly emerged bees demonstrated the highest CO₂ tolerance. Hemolymph and brain exhibited distinct responses: the cytochrome P450 pathway dominated in hemolymph, while the brain displayed stage-specific strategies. Newly emerged bees activated metabolic reorganization and clearance pathways. Nurse bees strengthened antioxidant defenses, while foragers enhanced amino acid metabolism to produce antioxidant precursors. All stages showed role-specific energy metabolism reprogramming to meet increased post-exposure demands. These findings provide critical data and theoretical foundations for honey bee colony management, transportation, and handling practices. The results also contribute valuable insights to the fundamental biology of other insects. Full article

Global food production systems are increasingly challenged by population growth, climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation, necessitating the adoption of sustainable, resource-efficient food production strategies. Aquaponic systems integrate recirculating aquaculture with hydroponic crop cultivation, enabling nutrient recycling and improved water-use efficiency. Simultaneously, CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology has emerged as a powerful tool for precise genetic improvement of economically important aquaculture traits. This review critically evaluates current progress in CRISPR/Cas9 applications in aquaculture, with emphasis on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Evidence from peer-reviewed studies indicates that targeted modification of genes associated with growth regulation, disease resistance, nutrient metabolism, feed efficiency, and stress tolerance can significantly enhance fish productivity and physiological resilience. Genes involved in hypoxia adaptation and nitrogen metabolism may further improve environmental performance in intensive recirculating systems by reducing ammonia accumulation and enhancing nutrient utilization. However, most genome-editing studies have been conducted under laboratory or conventional aquaculture conditions, with limited information available regarding the long-term performance, ecological interactions, microbial dynamics, and biosafety of genome-edited fish in aquaponic environments. Technical limitations including off-target effects, mosaicism, delivery efficiency, regulatory uncertainty, and public acceptance continue to constrain large-scale implementation. In the short term, CRISPR/Cas9 applications are likely to focus on practical trait enhancement under controlled aquaculture systems, whereas longer-term research may explore fish lines specifically optimized for nutrient cycling, environmental resilience, and integrated aquaponic sustainability. Overall, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing represents a promising but still emerging strategy for improving sustainable aquaculture and aquaponic food production systems. Full article

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction is a green and efficient technology. As a substitute for organic reagents, DESs are widely used to extract active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine. This study established an environmentally friendly and efficient method for extracting astaxanthin (AST) from Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) using ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (DESs-UAE). The astaxanthin content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Six types of deep eutectic solvents composed of DL-menthol and selected hydrogen bond donors were prepared and evaluated, among which the DL-menthol–acetic acid system showed superior extraction performance. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize extraction parameters (ultrasonic power, time, and temperature), and the optimal conditions were determined as follows: ultrasonic power 420 W, ultrasonic time 20 min, and ultrasonic temperature 60 °C, achieving an AST extraction rate of 62% (2.49 mg/g). Compared with conventional organic solvent extraction, DESs exhibited a significantly higher AST extraction rate from PR, except for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that DES-UAE treatment disrupted the cellular structure of PR, resulting in numerous surface pores; this facilitated the release of intracellular bioactive components and significantly improved AST extraction efficiency. The PR extract showed no significant cytotoxicity and could effectively promote L929 cell proliferation. It concentration-dependently increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress L929 cells, thereby alleviating oxidative damage. Additionally, it concentration-dependently upregulated type I collagen expression in these cells, ameliorated the decline in collagen synthesis function, and exerted a protective effect against cellular oxidative damage. This study provides a green alternative to toxic solvents and offers important theoretical and chemical support for the extraction of natural products and the high-value utilization of Phaffia rhodozyma (PR). Deep eutectic solvents have emerged as promising green alternatives to hazardous organic solvents, yet hydrophobic DESs tailored for lipophilic astaxanthin extraction from Phaffia rhodozyma and the linkage between extraction performance and anti-aging bioactivity remain insufficiently explored. Here, an ultrasound-assisted hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent extraction strategy was constructed to acquire astaxanthin, aiming to overcome low efficiency and environmental risks of conventional organic extraction techniques. Six DL-menthol-based DESs were prepared and screened, and DL-menthol–acetic acid possessed the optimal extraction capacity. Key extraction parameters were optimized via response surface methodology, and the maximum astaxanthin extraction recovery reached 62% (2.49 mg/g) under 420 W ultrasonic power, 20 min treatment and 60 °C. This yield was markedly higher than that of most common organic solvents; though comparable extraction effect was obtained with DMSO, the adopted DES possessed outstanding low-toxic and biodegradable superiorities that DMSO cannot match. SEM characterization verified that the combined treatment destroyed yeast cell structure and formed porous morphology, which accelerated intracellular astaxanthin release and accounted for improved extraction efficiency. Biological assays proved the extract possessed good biosafety and proliferation-promoting effect on L929 cells. It effectively relieved cellular oxidative injury by elevating the SOD level and reducing MDA accumulation in oxidative damaged cells, and upregulated type I collagen expression to mitigate aging-related collagen loss. This work develops an eco-friendly and high-efficiency extraction route for lipophilic active substance, confirms the practical value of hydrophobic DES, and provides experimental basis for high-value utilization of Phaffia rhodozyma resources. Full article

Autophagy is an essential mechanism through which cells break down and reuse intracellular proteins and organelles to preserve cellular homeostasis. Under physiological conditions, autophagy primarily exerts a cytoprotective effect; however, aberrant activation or deficiency of autophagy pathways can disturb cellular balance and even trigger apoptosis, thereby contributing to the occurrence and progression of multiple diseases. Flavonoids are natural bioactive components widely distributed in plants, characterized by distinct benefits of synergistic regulation via multiple targets and pathways. This review summarizes the primary mechanisms of flavonoids, focusing on their potential underlying mechanisms against various diseases—including atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, lung diseases, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, and malignant tumors—via regulating autophagy (including selective autophagy), and sorts out the latest advances in related experimental research over the past five years. In conclusion, flavonoids can effectively ameliorate the pathological processes of multiple diseases by modulating autophagy pathways with favorable biosafety. Nevertheless, low bioavailability remains the core bottleneck restricting their clinical translation. Further optimization of pharmaceutical formulations is warranted to enhance their uptake efficacy in vivo, and rigorous clinical trials are needed to assess their prolonged effectiveness and potential drug interactions, so as to offer new feasible approaches and research directions for the prophylaxis and therapy of various diseases. Full article

The mitigation of anthropogenic climate change caused by fossil fuel combustion is a critical global challenge that necessitates a transition to renewable energy systems. Bioethanol represents a major renewable fuel, but first-generation production relies on edible feedstocks, which raises concerns regarding food security. Consequently, research is shifting toward second-generation bioethanol produced from abundant non-edible lignocellulosic biomass sources. This review comprehensively examines the potential of Candida krusei (synonyms: Pichia kudriavzevii, Issatchenkia orientalis) to serve as an alternative biocatalyst for second-generation bioethanol production. Compared with the first-generation bioethanol-producing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, C. krusei exhibits superior physiological traits, such as thermo, acid, and inhibitor tolerances, enabling the utilization of several lignocellulosic feedstocks. This review summarizes the taxonomic and physiological characteristics of C. krusei, describes case studies on bioethanol production, and discusses strategies for reducing production costs. Furthermore, the technical and biosafety challenges associated with the industrial deployment of C. krusei are critically examined, including xylose metabolism limitations, scale-up constraints, and the management of its opportunistic pathogenic nature. A life cycle assessment perspective suggests that the unique physiological properties of C. krusei contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption throughout the entire production process, from pretreatment to downstream ethanol recovery. Full article

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway, which is crucial for plant disease resistance. However, the functional roles of specific PAL members in lily defense against gray mold (Botrytis elliptica) remain unclear. Using the resistant lily cultivar ‘Sorbonne’, metabolomics analysis revealed that phenylpropane metabolites were significantly induced upon pathogen infection. Combined second- and third-generation transcriptome sequencing identified eight PAL family members. Among them, LhSorPAL1 and LhSorPAL2 were strongly induced by B. elliptica and were selected for further analysis. Both recombinant proteins exhibited PAL enzymatic activity catalyzing cinnamic acid production from L-phenylalanine. Overexpression of LhSorPAL1 or LhSorPAL2 in lily via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation had no obvious effect on plant growth but significantly increased the accumulation of lignin, flavonoids, and total phenols upon pathogen challenge, leading to enhanced resistance to gray mold. Conversely, antisense expression of LhSorPAL1 or LhSorPAL2 reduced the accumulation of these metabolites. Promoter analysis revealed that both LhSorPAL1pro and LhSorPAL2pro contain methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-, abscisic acid (ABA)-, and transcription factor-binding cis-elements. Collectively, these results demonstrate that LhSorPAL1 and LhSorPAL2 positively regulate lily resistance to B. elliptica by promoting phenylpropane metabolism, providing candidate genes for molecular breeding. Full article

To address the “3R” issues (resistance, resurgence, and residue) associated with chemical control of the sea buckthorn fruit fly (R. batava obscuriosa), this study proposes a novel physical barrier technology aimed at reducing pesticide application intensity, mitigating environmental pollution, and enhancing fruit quality. Yellow sticky traps were deployed to monitor adult occurrence dynamics and delineate the critical control window, while black polyethylene (PE) ground cover was installed on the orchard floor around the base of sea buckthorn trunks to prevent adult emergence from the soil. Control efficacy was evaluated by comparing adult trap catches and fruit infestation rates between the black PE ground cover treatment and the untreated control. Monitoring results revealed that adult emergence commenced on 29 June, entered the peak period on 9 July, attained maximum trap catch on 24 July, and persisted into the late emergence phase through mid-to-late August. Control data demonstrated that mean trap catches in the black PE ground cover treatment were lower than those in the control. From 2024 to 2025, fruit infestation rates declined from 74.5% and 62.3% in the control plot to 19.0~22.0% and 16.2~19.3% in the treatment plots, respectively, with control efficacy consistently exceeding 65%. This study demonstrates that black PE ground cover reduces adult abundance and fruit infestation rates of R. batava obscuriosa, with control efficacy consistently exceeding 65%. The observed effects are consistent with a soil-surface barrier effect and likely attributed to dual physical mechanisms: it may reduce adult emergence from the soil into the canopy and may obstruct mature larvae from entering the soil to pupate. This technology represents an environmentally sound, sustainable green control option suitable for integration into IPM programs for the sea buckthorn industry. Full article

Background: This study aimed to construct a recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vector vaccine delivering pcrV and compare the immunological impacts of OMVs as carriers versus as adjuvants. Methods: The recombinant plasmid pBBRMCS5-pcrV was constructed and transformed into P. aeruginosa. Recombinant OMVs (OMV_PcrV) were prepared via ultracentrifugation and characterized in terms of their morphology and particle size by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). After a biosafety evaluation, mice were intramuscularly immunized with PcrV or OMV_PcrV, followed by a booster immunization on day 21. On day 42, the mice were challenged subcutaneously and intranasally with PAO1. Bacterial loads in tissues and blood, pulmonary T-cell subsets, and serum antibody levels were assessed. Results: The recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed, and Western blotting confirmed the delivery of PcrV into OMVs. TEM revealed typical spherical nanostructures, and NTA showed a median particle size of 127.4 ± 5.3 nm. Upon subcutaneous challenge, the OMV, OMV_PcrV, and OMV + PcrV groups all achieved 100% protection. Both the OMV_PcrV and OMV + PcrV groups exhibited increased CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell counts and higher induction levels of specific IgM, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies. The OMV_PcrV group showed superior clearance of respiratory bacterial colonization and reduced inflammatory injury compared with the PBS control group. Conclusions: The constructed vector successfully delivered the PcrV antigen, and the OMVPcrV vaccine induced effective immune responses. Compared with wild-type outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and the strategy of directly mixing free PcrV antigen with OMVs (OMV + PcrV), the recombinant OMV_PcrV vaccine exhibited superior immunoprotective efficacy in terms of bacterial clearance and tissue protection, providing experimental evidence for the development of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin commonly found in food crops and animal feed worldwide. Its pronounced toxicity in pigs poses a serious risk to the swine industry and to human health. This study focused on two central features of ferroptosis—iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation—and examined how chlorogenic acid (CGA) affects DON-induced ferroptosis in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) via cell-based assays and oxidative lipid metabolomics. These findings show that DON disrupts intracellular iron homeostasis by altering iron-handling proteins (upregulating TFR1 and DMT1 and downregulating FPN1), which may lead to iron overload. Concurrently, DON impairs the GPX4 antioxidant axis (downregulating GPX4, SLC3A2, SLC7A11, and GCLC) and increases ROS, and exposure led to a significant increase in numerous oxidized lipid metabolites, consistent with elevated lipid peroxidation, culminating in ferroptosis in PAMs. CGA mitigates these effects by restoring iron homeostasis and reestablishing GPX4 axis function, thereby reducing oxidative stress. Moreover, CGA suppresses lipid peroxidation pathways, notably linoleic acid oxidation metabolism. In conclusion, CGA protects PAMs and mitigates the proferroptotic effects of DON. Full article

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process that degrades damaged proteins and organelles to preserve cellular homeostasis. Autophagy plays two opposing roles during viral infection. On the one hand, it can be subverted by viruses to facilitate replication and immune evasion. On the other hand, it limits viral infection by delivering viral components to lysosomes. The interaction between autophagy and important picornaviruses that infect cattle and poultry, such as SVV, EMCV, FMDV, and DHAV, is the main topic of this paper. However, comprehensive summaries focusing specifically on livestock and poultry remain limited. We summarize current research showing that these viruses evade host protection by manipulating several steps of the autophagic pathway, from initiation to lysosomal fusion, to produce replication-favorable environments. Notably, by directing the breakdown of viral capsid proteins, specific autophagy receptors such as SQSTM1/p62, NDP52, and optineurin (OPTN) serve as antiviral effectors. In response, picornaviruses have developed proteolytic strategies to inactivate these receptors, such as SVV 3C-mediated cleavage of SQSTM1 and OPTN. Moreover, different immune evasion tactics are shown by virus-specific engagement of organelle-selective autophagy, such as ER-phagy (SVV) or mitophagy (DHAV). The development of broad-spectrum antiviral treatments and autophagy-based biomarkers for livestock disease progression may benefit from an understanding of the convergent and different ways picornaviruses take advantage of the autophagic machinery. Full article

Developing zinc oxide-based nano-bactericides as alternatives to conventional chemical bactericides for controlling rice bacterial diseases has become a major research focus. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were initially surface-modified and subsequently covalently conjugated with chitooligosaccharide (COS) via imine bonds to get a pH-responsive zinc oxide–chitooligosaccharide (ZnO–COS) delivery system. A series of physicochemical characterizations, including FTIR, UV-vis, XRD, and TGA, confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO–COS NPs. Building on this foundation, the pH-responsive release behavior, foliar deposition performance, antibacterial activity, and biosafety of the nanoparticles were systematically investigated. The prepared ZnO–COS NPs exhibited pronounced acid-triggered Zn²⁺ release, together with enhanced wettability, spreadability, and retention on rice leaf surfaces, owing to COS incorporation. In both in vitro and in vivo assays against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), ZnO–COS NPs demonstrated effective antibacterial activity associated with bacterial cell damage and the activation of antioxidant defense responses in plants. Consequently, ZnO–COS NPs achieved a preventive efficacy of 56.0% against rice bacterial blight, surpassing those of ZnO (33.3%) and COS (14.3%). Furthermore, safety assessment confirmed the good biocompatibility of ZnO–COS NPs towards rice seed germination and seedling growth. In summary, the synthesised ZnO–COS NPs integrated pH-responsive release, improved foliar deposition, and enhanced antioxidant capacity of rice, offering a promising strategy for mitigating bacterial diseases in rice. Full article

Understanding and regulating fish growth is vital for the economic sustainability of aquaculture. The melanocortin-3 and -4 receptors (MC3R/MC4R, known as neural MCRs), integral components of the leptin–melanocortin circuit, play crucial roles in vertebrate energy homeostasis and growth. Abnormal neural MCR signaling contributes to human obesity. In teleosts, Mc4r was first comprehensively studied in goldfish in 2003. Since then, Mc4r has been characterized in various teleosts. Genetic and pharmacological reduction of neural Mcr signaling can increase feeding or growth in several fish models, although its aquaculture value must be evaluated using production endpoints such as feed conversion, body composition, reproduction, welfare, and biosafety. Furthermore, neural Mcrs also play a role in modulating reproductive processes and sexual function in teleosts. This review systematically examines recent progress on the roles of fish neural Mcrs, offering an overview of basic molecular characteristics, tissue distribution, and pharmacology. Physiological roles and mechanisms in growth regulation are reviewed. Finally, the potential and limitations of targeting neural Mcrs for aquaculture-relevant traits are discussed. This work contributes to our understanding of the evolution of energy homeostasis regulation in vertebrates, providing a foundation for healthier and more efficient aquaculture practices. Full article

Streptococcus agalactiae is a major contagious pathogen of bovine mastitis and causes substantial economic losses in the dairy industry. In this study, a dual-readout RPA-PfAgo detection platform targeting the conserved cfb gene of S. agalactiae was established and optimized. Seven pairs of RPA primers were designed and screened to construct the Basic-RPA assay, and six guide DNAs (gDNAs) together with a specific probe were evaluated for PfAgo-assisted detection. Field validation was performed using 153 bovine milk samples collected from five dairy-farming regions in China, and assay performance was compared with bacteriological culture and a standardized quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. The Basic-RPA assay achieved optimal amplification at 37 °C for 30 min, with a detection limit of 1 × 10⁻³ ng/µL and no cross-reactivity with non-target bacteria. The optimized RPA-PfAgo-RTF assay detected as few as 10 copies/µL, whereas the RPA-PfAgo-LFD assay detected 100 copies/µL, and both formats showed high analytical specificity. In field milk samples, bacteriological culture detected 21 positive samples, whereas standardized real-time PCR (qPCR), RPA-PfAgo-RTF, and RPA-PfAgo-LFD each detected 33 positive samples. When compared with bacteriological culture as a conventional comparator, all three molecular assays showed 100.00% positive agreement, 90.91% negative agreement, and a Kappa value of 0.733. In addition, RPA-PfAgo-RTF and RPA-PfAgo-LFD were completely concordant with the standardized qPCR assay across all 153 samples. These results indicate that the dual-readout RPA-PfAgo platform is a rapid and reliable molecular tool for detection of S. agalactiae in bovine milk. Full article

Mastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in dairy cows, leading to significant economic losses and increased antibiotic usage. The development of safe and effective alternatives is therefore urgently needed. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Forsythiaside A (FTA), a natural compound, against LPS-induced mastitis in bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells and a murine model. FTA significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased lipid peroxidation, and restored antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, FTA increased the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11, indicating inhibition of ferroptosis. The ferroptosis inducer RSL3 partially reversed these protective effects, supporting the involvement of GPX4-associated ferroptosis regulation in the protective effects of FTA. In vivo, FTA alleviated mammary tissue injury, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and improved redox balance. These findings suggest that FTA may serve as a potential natural therapeutic agent for mastitis, providing a promising alternative to antibiotic-based treatments in dairy production. Full article