Search Results (190)

Agricultural waste poses significant environmental and economic challenges, with the UK generating 135,000 tonnes annually. Upcycling plant-derived waste offers a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural productivity while producing innovative, health-promoting foods. Cherries, particularly rich in anthocyanins and quercetin, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties linked to numerous health benefits. In this study researchers and a small agricultural business in Kent, the UK’s largest cherry-producing region, collaborated to quantify the bioactive compounds in products derived from waste cherries and evaluate their health potential. We find that cherry juice, pulp, and pomace retain high anthocyanin content, particularly Cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, and contain quercetin. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, we demonstrate that cherry pulp supplementation is protective in an Alzheimer’s disease model. Our study highlights the potential to upcycle agricultural waste to produce foods with health benefits while reducing waste. Full article

Chile, which accounts for 27% of global cherry exports (USD 2.26 billion annually), faces a critical industry challenge in crop health monitoring. While automated sensors monitor environmental variables, phytosanitary diagnosis still relies on manual visual inspection, leading to detection errors and delays. Given this reality and the growing use of AI models in agriculture, our study quantifies the theory–practice gap through comparative evaluation of three transfer learning architectures (namely, VGG16, ResNet50, and EfficientNetB0) for automated disease identification in cherry leaves under both controlled and real-world orchard conditions. Our analysis reveals that excellent laboratory performance does not guarantee operational effectiveness: while two of the three models exceeded 97% controlled validation accuracy, their field performance degraded significantly, reaching only 52% in the best-case scenario (ResNet50). These findings identify a major risk in agricultural transfer learning applications: strong laboratory performance does not ensure real-world effectiveness, creating unwarranted confidence in model performance under real conditions that may compromise crop health management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis and the leading cause of death from a single infection with the microorganism. Tuberculosis remains globally one of the major diseases leading to high mortality rates, with serious implications for public health and economic development. Therefore, tuberculosis prevention and control is crucial for global health and socio-economic stability. The development of effective preventive vaccines remains an urgent task in the fight against tuberculosis. Methods: The Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen PPE18 was fused to Zera, and Bacmid was extracted and transfected into Sf9, which was purified and characterized for the formation of nanoparticle protein bodies. BALB/c mice and calves were immunized, and the immunogenicity of the nanoparticle vaccine was assessed by serum antibodies and splenic lymphocytes. Results: Zera-71CA-mCherry can be expressed in Sf9 cells, forming 0.5–1.2 μm protein bodies. Excising the mCherry sequence, Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 candidate nanoparticle-immunized mice were able to elicit serum antibody levels and the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, and immunized calves were determined to have high levels of serum antibody levels, and IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions: The results indicated that Zera-71CA/Zera-PPE18 recombinant nanoparticles had good immunogenicity as a subunit vaccine in both BALB/c mice and calves and are potential candidates for further development as effective subunit vaccines. Full article

Polyphenols are known as secondary metabolites, which are crucial bioactive compounds that play a significant role in enhancing human health. Chromatographic methods are typically used to identify polyphenols after food extraction. The extraction methods are fundamental, however, they are implemented with some differences, including extractant type, according to the food. Polyphenols are mostly found in some foods, including grapes, olives, cherries, and apples. Foods have diverse polyphenols, which differ according to the food type. Moreover, they have flavonols, flavanols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, and anthocyanins as various subgroups of polyphenols, which can change in terms of quantity and quality along with several factors, including the type, growing region, germination time, and harvest season of the food. The consumption of polyphenols is crucial for human health due to their anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, cardiometabolic risk management, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. In the valorization of polyphenols, the consumption dose is also important to effectively benefit from the polyphenols of plant-based foods. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have tested the polyphenols’ digestion ability and preservation ability in gut microbiota and their effect on the microbiota to determine the benefits and effects of polyphenols in several areas. According to these studies, polyphenols can be used to fight against disease. In addition, diverse applications, including encapsulation and polyphenol coating, are used to stabilize, preserve, and improve the bioaccessibility of polyphenols. Even though polyphenol-rich foods are consumed for nutrition in daily life, they are also used as nutritional ingredients in the food industry to produce functional foods, and functional foods are enriched with food by-products to enhance their nutritional value, especially in terms of polyphenols. Particularly, food by-products are used to enrich functional foods, which are preferred in healthy life diets due to the diversity and amount of bioactive ingredients, including the polyphenol types of the food by-products. Furthermore, polyphenols also provide the preservation ability of storage and improve the bioaccessibility of bioactive ingredients during the digestion of functional foods. This review article examines the polyphenol ingredients of several types of food used in the food industry. It explains the effective factors that affect the amount and type of food and determines the impact of polyphenols on polyphenol-enriched products and functional foods. The article also provides a brief exemplification of the value of polyphenol-rich food by-products in the context of functional food production. Several studies presented in this review article demonstrate the value of polyphenols, particularly in the food industry and functional food production. Full article

Microfluidic modulation spectroscopy-infrared (MMS) offers a label-free, high-sensitivity approach for quantifying changes in protein secondary structures under native solution conditions. MMS subtracts the solvent backgrounds from sample signals by alternately flowing proteins and matched buffers through a microfluidic chamber, yielding clear amide I spectra from microliter volumes. In this study, we validated MMS on canonical globular proteins, bovine serum albumin, mCherry, and lysozyme, demonstrating accurate detection and resolution of α-helix, β-sheet, and mixed-fold structures. Applying MMS to the intrinsically disordered protein Tau, we detected environment-driven shifts in transient conformers: both the acidic (pH 2.5) and alkaline (pH 10) conditions increased the turn/unordered structures and decreased the α-helix content relative to the neutral pH, highlighting the charge-mediated destabilization of the labile motifs. Hyperphosphorylation of Tau yielded a modest decrease in the α-helical fraction and an increase in the turn/unordered structures. Comparison of monomeric and aggregated hyperphosphorylated Tau revealed a dramatic gain in β-sheet and a loss in turn/unordered structures upon amyloid fibril formation, confirming MMS’s ability to distinguish disordered monomers from amyloids. These findings establish MMS as a robust platform for detecting protein secondary structures and monitoring aggregation pathways in both folded and disordered systems. The sensitive detection of structural transitions offers opportunities for probing misfolding mechanisms and advancing our understanding of aggregation-related diseases. Full article

We have previously shown that neuromodulatory actions on astrocytes can elicit metabotropic glutamate- and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent tonic changes in excitability in the mesopontine region. Although in vitro experiments explored robust effects, the in vivo significance of our findings remained unknown. In this project, chronic chemogenetic activation of mesopontine astrocytes and its actions on movement, circadian activity, acoustic startle and spatial memory were tested. The control group of young adult male mice where mesopontine astrocytes expressed only the mCherry fluorescent tag was compared to the group expressing the hM3D(Gq) chemogenetic actuator. Chronic chemogenetic astrocyte activation reduced the amplitude of the acoustic startle reflex and increased the locomotion speed in the resting period. Gait alterations were also demonstrated but no change in the spatial memory was explored. As a potential background of these findings, chronic astrocytic activation decreased the cholinergic neuronal number to 54% and reduced the non-cholinergic neuronal number to 76% of the control. In conclusion, chronic astrocytic activation and the consequential decrease in the neuronal number led to disturbances in movement and circadian activity resembling brainstem-related symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy, raising the possibility that astrocytic overactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Full article

Black spot is a major postharvest disease of cherry tomatoes, caused by Alternaria alternata. This causes economic losses and storage challenges, so researchers are exploring alternative methods. The biological control of fruits and vegetables using antagonistic bacteria and yeasts is currently a research hotspot. Initially, the biological control impact of Bacillus velezensis T3 on cherry tomato black spot was investigated. Disease defense, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and antioxidant-related enzymes were determined during different storage periods. The relative gene expressions of these enzymes were also confirmed using RT-qPCR. The results showed that B. velezensis T3 reduced the incidence of black spot disease in cherry tomatoes. The growth of A. alternata was suppressed by B. velezensis T3 cell-free filtrate both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, B. velezensis T3 induced the activities of disease resistance-related enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), and chitinase (CHI), and the activities of the ROS-related enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and reduced the rate of O₂⁻ production and H₂O₂, and MDA content of cherry tomatoes. This approach offers a promising alternative for extending shelf life, though further studies are needed to fully characterize its effects on fruit quality. Full article

Peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and nectarines (Prunus persica L. Batsch var. nectarina [Ait.] Maxim) are economically important stone fruits consumed worldwide, both fresh and processed. Viruses and viroids significantly constrain the cultivation and productivity of peach orchards. Climate change may alter vector populations and lead to shifts in agricultural practices, influencing the spread of these viruses and viroids. Additionally, market globalization further intensifies the pressure on peach crops by facilitating the movement of pathogens, increasing the incidence of virus-induced diseases. In this study, we identified the viral and viroid communities in five peach cultivars from Bulgaria and assessed their impact on symptom development. RNA sequencing of symptomatic leaf samples revealed the presence of common peach viruses, such as plum pox virus and prunus necrotic ringspot virus. Notably, we identified peach latent mosaic viroid and cherry green ring mottle virus in Bulgarian peach orchards for the first time. Furthermore, bioassays of indicator plants, ELISA, and Sanger sequencing were performed for each peach tree to complement the RNA sequencing data. These findings provide valuable insights into the composition of viral and viroid pathogens affecting peaches in Bulgaria and will support the development of targeted strategies for monitoring and managing these pathogens, contributing to the sustainable production of peaches in the region. Full article

This study is the first investigation of tree–insect–bacteria interactions in southern Romania, documenting the distribution of 19 insect species across various fruit trees and their insect-associated bacterial diversity. Insect species were identified through DNA barcoding, while bacterial communities in Anthomyia, Botanophila, Drosophila, and Scaptomyza insects were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Insect diversity varied across apple, cherry, plum, peach, and quince trees, with most species showing tree-specific distribution, except for Drosophila melanogaster, which was found on all tree species. Its presence was primarily influenced by fruit development stages rather than temperature changes. Insect bacterial communities comprised 51 genera across four phyla, predominantly Pseudomonadota and Bacillota, that varied by tree species rather than insect species, suggesting the potential role of these flies as bacterial vectors. Several potential pathogenic bacterial genera were identified as biomarkers within insect microbiomes, suggesting their involvement in disease transmission, particularly affecting apple and cherry trees. This study also provides the first report of seven insect species in Romania, being the first microbiome characterization of four dipteran species associated with regional fruit trees. Full article

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a major immunosuppressive disease affecting young chickens, and causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry. This work represents the first pathogenicity assessment of Moroccan very virulent IBD virus. Molecular characterization and sequence analysis of this isolate previously identified specific substitutions, including seven amino acid substitutions in segment A, and I472L and E688D in segment B, specific and unique to Moroccan vvIBDV strains. Two chicken lines, broiler and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, were inoculated via the occulonasal route with 0.2 mL of the 10⁵EID₅₀ /mL viral solution of the IB19 vvIBDV strain at 29 days of age. Experimental monitoring was carried out for 10 days post-challenge (dpc). Clinical signs started on the second dpc, with peak severity observed between 3 and 6 dpc. The total mortality rate reached 10% in broilers (group G1) and 93% in SPF chickens (G3). Macroscopic lesions in G1 broilers included marked hypertrophy of the bursa of Fabricius (BF), followed by very pronounced atrophy, while macroscopic examinations of deceased SPF birds (G3) revealed very hemorrhagic BF with a black cherry appearance in 80% of dead birds. The mean Bursa/Body Index (BBI) of challenged broilers (G1) showed a decrease of 46% compared to the control group (G2), indicating bursal atrophy. Microscopic lesions in the BF consisted mainly of inflammation, with severe lymphoid depletion of the follicles in challenged G3 SPF birds. This in vivo study of Moroccan vvIBDV demonstrated a distinctive virulence profile, and confirmed its classification as a very virulent strain with substantial disease-causing potential. It is crucial to obtain comprehensive knowledge of the prevalence, emergence, pathogenicity, and control of Moroccan IBDV strains. Full article

Little cherry disease (LCD) and X-disease have critically impacted the Pacific Northwest sweet cherry (Prunus avium) industry. Current detection methods rely on laborious visual scouting or molecular analyses. This study evaluates the suitability of field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) for rapid detection of LCD and X-disease infection in three sweet cherry cultivars (‘Benton’, ‘Cristalina’, and ‘Tieton’) at the post-harvest stage. Stem cuttings with leaves were collected from commercial orchards and greenhouse trees. FAIMS operated at 1.5 L/min and 50 kPa, was used for headspace analysis. Molecular analyses confirmed symptomatic and asymptomatic samples. FAIMS data were processed for ion current sum (I_sum), maximum ion current (I_max), and area under the curve (I_AUC). Symptomatic samples showed higher ion currents in specific FAIMS regions (p < 0.05), with clear differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic samples across compensation voltage and dispersion field ranges. Cultivar-specific variation was also observed in the data. FAIMS spectra for LCD/X-disease symptomatic samples differed from those for asymptomatic samples in other Prunus species, such as peach and nectarines. These findings support FAIMS as a potential diagnostic tool for LCD/X disease. Further studies with controlled variables and key growth stages are recommended to realize early-stage detection. Full article

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and biologic therapies have revolutionized treatment by targeting key cytokine pathways. While these therapies effectively control psoriatic lesions, their impact on other cutaneous structures, such as cherry angiomas and solar lentigines, remains unclear. Angiomas are benign vascular proliferations influenced by systemic inflammation and hormonal factors, whereas solar lentigines are UV-induced pigmentary lesions associated with aging and sun exposure. This study aimed to assess the impact of biologic therapies on the development of these lesions in psoriasis patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted over a five-year period (2019–2024) at a tertiary dermatological center in Southeastern Europe. Clinical and demographic data, including treatment history, were extracted from medical records, while digital dermoscopy was used to assess lesion progression. Statistical analyses evaluated associations among biologic therapy classes, systemic inflammation, and cutaneous lesion development. Results: Angioma prevalence was significantly higher among postmenopausal women and those with osteoporosis, suggesting a hormonal influence on vascular proliferation. Patients with psoriatic arthritis had a greater angioma burden, reinforcing the role of chronic inflammation in angiogenesis. IL-23 inhibitors were linked to increased angioma formation compared to TNF-α inhibitors, while methotrexate and UVB therapy appeared to have a protective effect. Solar lentigines were more frequent in postmenopausal women and in patients with systemic inflammatory conditions. In contrast, smoking and moderate alcohol consumption were associated with lower lesion counts. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that biologic therapies, particularly IL-23 inhibitors, may contribute to angiogenesis and pigmentary changes in psoriasis patients, highlighting the influence of systemic inflammation on vascular and melanocytic activity. Additionally, TNF-α inhibitors and NSAIDs were associated with an increased prevalence of solar lentigines, while methotrexate and UVB therapy appeared to have a protective effect. Given these associations, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and refine treatment strategies to optimize dermatologic care for psoriasis patients. Full article

Background: Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD), most commonly known as Niemann–Pick disease (NPD), is a rare progressive genetic disorder regarding lipid storage. Subtypes A and B are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion and consist of a genetic defect which affects the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 gene, leading to residual or lack of enzymatic activity of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). Materials and Methods: This paper provides a brief history and overview to date of the disease and a comprehensive review of the current literature on ASMD in children, conducted on published papers from the past 10 years. Results: We identified 19 original publications (16 individual case reports and three series of cases—30 patients). The male/female ratio was 1.4. The youngest patient at disease onset was a female newborn with NPD-A. The youngest patient was diagnosed at 4 months. The longest timeframe between onset symptoms and diagnostic moment was 5 years 3 months. A total of nine patients exhibited red cherry macular spots. A total of 13 children exhibited associated lung disease, and four NPD-A patients with pulmonary disease died due to respiratory complications. A total of 11 children exhibited associated growth impairment. Genetic assays were performed in 25 cases (15 homozygous; 9 heterozygous). A total of four children (13.3%) received enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Therapy outcomes included decreased liver and spleen volumes, improved platelet and leukocytes counts, and body mass index and stature improvement. Conclusions: Sometimes, a small child with a big belly hides a huge dilemma; inherited metabolic disorders are here to challenge clinicians and set the record straight, and genetics is the way of the future in terms of diagnosis and novel treatments. NPD must be considered children with persistent and progressive hepatosplenomegaly and growth failure. Diagnosis requires good clinical skills and access to genetic assays. Since 2022, the FDA has given a green light to a revolutionary enzymatic replacement therapy with human recombinant ASM called Olipudase-alfa. Clinical trial outcomes support its reliability and efficacy in the pediatric population. Full article

Background: Flowering members of the globally diffused Rosaceae family include popular plants, such as apple, almond, and cherry, which play a fundamental role as honeybee nectariferous and polleniferous agents. Through the production of honey, these plants can also play an indirect role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including infections, fighting the occurrence of resistant microorganisms, and concurrently stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria. Objectives: This study focused on the effect of some Rosaceae plants’ honey, including hawthorn, cherry, raspberry, almond, and apple, against the pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Results demonstrated the honey’s ability to impair swimming motility. A crystal violet test indicated that honey could inhibit the formation and stabilization of biofilms, with inhibition rates up to 59.43% for immature biofilms (showed by apple honey against A. baumannii) and 39.95% for sessile bacterial cells in mature biofilms (when we used cherry honey against S. aureus). In the test with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, cherry and apple honey were the most effective in inhibiting sessile cell metabolism honey in both immature (56.47% cherry honey vs. K. pneumoniae) and mature biofilms (54.36% apple honey vs. A. baumannii). Honey stimulated the growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lacticaseibacillus plantarum, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; hawthorn, raspberry, and almond honey significantly increased the in vitro adhesion capacity of L. bulgaricus and L. casei Shirota. Tests with probiotic supernatants demonstrated honey’s ability to inhibit the biofilm formation and metabolism of the pathogens. Conclusions: Our results encourage further studies to assess the potential application of Rosaceae honey for food preservation and in the health field, as it could fight the antimicrobial resistance of food and clinical pathogens, and potentially enhance the host’s gut wellness. The use of honey for nanotechnological and biotechnological approaches could be suggested too. Full article

Sphingolipidoses are a class of inherited lysosomal storage diseases, characterized by enzymatic deficiencies that impair sphingolipid degradation. This enzymatic malfunction results in the pathological accumulation of sphingolipids within lysosomes, leading to tissue damage across multiple organ systems. Among the various organs involved, the eye and particularly the retina, can be affected and this will be the primary focus of this study. This article will explore the various subtypes of sphingolipidoses, detailing their associated retinal abnormalities, with an emphasis on multimodal imaging findings and clinical recognition of these rare disorders. Full article