Search Results (2,287)

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a widely distributed estrogenic mycotoxin that compromises intestinal health in pigs, but its spatial difference ZEN and niche-specific regulatory effects on the intestinal microbiota remain largely unelucidated. In this study, 12 healthy three-way crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly divided into two treatments. The control group (CON) was fed with the basal diet, and the treatment group (ZEN) was supplemented with 1.5 mg ZEA/kg of the basal diet for 28 days. Chyme and mucosal microorganisms in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and cecum were profiled by using 16S rDNA sequencing. The results indicated that ZEN significantly reduced the α-diversity of ileal chyme, while the abnormal increase in α-diversity of ileal and cecal mucosa represented a pathological signature of intestinal mucosal barrier damage induced by ZEN, which was detrimental to intestinal health. β-Diversity analysis revealed ZEN altered the microbial community composition of the cecal chyme. LEfSe analysis revealed gut segment-specific and niche-specific biomarker taxa among the groups, and functional prediction further indicated that ZEN exposure significantly perturbed key metabolic pathways: it downregulated nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism as well as the citrate cycle in ileal chyme and upregulated the pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway in cecal chyme. Collectively, this study demonstrated the effects of ZEN on the intestinal microbiota across spatial difference and ecological niches in weaned piglets, providing a basis for elucidating the microecological mechanisms underlying ZEN-induced intestinal injury in pigs. Full article

This study investigates the effects of organic salts, including sodium citrate (SC), calcium citrate (CC), and calcium lactate (CL), on the structure–property–function relationships of thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PBAT) films for active packaging applications. TPS incorporated with organic salts was prepared via twin-screw extrusion, blended with PBAT, and further processed into blown films. The films were systematically characterized using ¹H NMR, FTIR, and SEM, together with optical, mechanical, water vapor permeability, and antimicrobial evaluations against Staphylococcus aureus. The results revealed that SC primarily modulated hydrogen-bonding interactions within the starch matrix, resulting in improved structural homogeneity, balanced mechanical properties, and the highest antimicrobial activity among all formulations. In contrast, CL and CC promoted ionic crosslinking through Ca²⁺–starch interactions, leading to increased stiffness and Young’s modulus but reduced polymer chain mobility and limited release of active species, particularly in CC-containing systems. These differences in molecular interactions were consistent with variations in film microstructure, where SC-containing films exhibited more uniform morphologies, while calcium-based systems showed denser but less permeable structures. Furthermore, films containing SC and CL at appropriate concentrations achieved a favorable balance between transparency, water vapor barrier properties, and antimicrobial performance. Overall, this study provides new mechanistic insights into how monovalent and divalent organic salts govern intermolecular interactions, microstructure, and functional performance in TPS/PBAT systems. The findings highlight the critical role of additive type and concentration in designing biodegradable active packaging materials with tunable mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties. Full article

Synthetic dyes discharged from the textile and dyeing industry present a significant environmental and health hazard due to their inherent toxicity, environmental persistence, and potential carcinogenicity. Microbial degradation has garnered significant interest as a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy for dye wastewater treatment in recent years. The study systematically evaluated the decolorization performance, degradation pathways, and detoxification effects of three bacterial strains, including Rhodopseudomonas palustris gh32, Bacillus cereus HL7, and Bacillus safensis X64, on the dye indigo carmine (IC) and three azo dyes: reactive black 5 (RB5), direct black G (DBG), and direct blue 15 (DB15). The degradation mechanisms were elucidated through UV-Vis spectroscopy, UPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS analysis, and enzyme activity assays. Molecular docking simulations were employed to investigate the interactions between key redox enzymes (such as laccase, tyrosinase, and azoreductase) and the dye molecules. The results demonstrated that the strain-specific enzymatic systems effectively disrupted the dye structures. Significant detoxification effects were further confirmed through a series of bio toxicity assays involving Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, plant seeds, and erythrocytes. The addition of Fe³⁺, sodium citrate, or yeast extract significantly enhanced both the decolorization efficiency and enzyme activity. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the bacterial dye degradation process at the mechanistic level, highlighting the potential of customized bacterial systems for eco-friendly dye wastewater treatment. It offers theoretical support for elucidating the mechanisms of bacterial dye degradation and advancing bioremediation technologies. Full article

Hypoxia-dependent microRNAs play an important role in orchestrating a plant’s response to low-oxygen stress. To assess the regulatory mechanisms of the adaptive response of maize (Zea mays L.) to hypoxia, an antisense sequence was developed, and the short tandem target mimic (STTM) system was used to induce the loss of function of the mature microRNA775A (miR775a) in maize. A recombinant binary vector pBI121 cloned in E. coli cells containing the antisense sequence anti-miR775A to maize miR775A was acquired to create a line of modified A. tumefaciens EHA105. Using the puncturing method on soaked seeds, maize plants with an active anti-miR775A construct were obtained, as evidenced by a decrease of more than 10-fold in mature miR775A content and by developmental changes in the seedlings. The size of seedlings of the maize knockdown line was almost twice smaller than that of the wild-type (WT) plants. An assessment of the effects of hypoxic conditions induced by flooding of 14-day-old maize plants revealed differences in the expression and activity of several enzymes between WT and knockdown plants. The reduced miR775A levels led to a 2.1-fold drop in pyruvate levels, which resulted in decreased pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities as compared to WT plants. A decrease in miR775A content in the maize knockdown cell line also affected the function of mitochondrial and extramitochondrial isoenzymes of citrate synthase, aconitase, and fumarase under hypoxic conditions. Full article

In search of a non-surgical alternative for male animal sterilization, this study investigated the use of gold-coated maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe₂O₃@Au) functionalized with citrate to produce testicular photohyperthermia (PHT). Wistar rats received an intratesticular injection of the fluid containing the nanoparticles (150 µL/testicle) followed by testicular irradiation with an LED light (808 nm). Testicular temperature was maintained at ~45 °C for 15 min. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in testicular volume and weight and sperm motility and normal morphology in PHT-treated animals, together with histopathological degeneration of seminiferous tubules. No treatment-related side effects or signs of systemic toxicity were observed. The biodistribution of the gold (Au) and iron (Fe) from the nanoparticles showed that the testes were the primary site of nanoparticle accumulation until day 56 post-treatment with possible renal excretion of Au. These findings support the prospect of testicular PHT mediated by γ-Fe₂O₃@Au nanoparticles as a neutering method for male animals. Full article

Infertility is a prevalent clinical issue which disrupts normal human life and exerts an impact on fertility rates within the population. The increase in environmental pollutants, including acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), has given rise to concerns regarding their potential toxicity in infertility-related disorders. Icariin exhibits therapeutic effects on infertility, yet its mechanism of action against plasticiser-induced reproductive disorders remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the potential toxicological targets and molecular mechanisms of ATBC-induced infertility, as well as the therapeutic targets and mechanisms of icariin in treating ATBC-induced reproductive disorders, through network toxicology, molecular-docking techniques and molecular dynamics simulation. Utilising the component-target database SwissTargetPrediction, the Similarity Ensemble Approach, PharmMapper, the ChEMBL database, and disease databases including the Therapeutic Target Database, OMIM, GeneCards, and DrugBank, 63 targets for ATBC-induced infertility and 33 targets for icariin treatment were identified. Screening via the STRING platform and Cytoscape 3.10.1 software yielded four core targets for ATBC-induced infertility—HSP90AA1, PIK3CA, CASP3, HRAS—and four core targets for icariin treatment—IL6, TNF, STAT3, and INS. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that ATBC-induced infertility correlates with pathways including pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways. Conversely, the core targets of icariin therapy for related reproductive disorders are closely associated with tumour-associated signalling pathways and the AGE-RAGE signalling pathway. Molecular-docking and molecular dynamics simulation further confirmed the strong binding interactions between ATBC and infertility-related targets, as well as between icariin and core targets for treating reproductive disorders. This provides a theoretical foundation for understanding ATBC’s toxicological targets and the complex molecular mechanisms underpinning icariin’s treatment of infertility. It informs the development of strategies for icariin to prevent and treat infertility caused by exposure to ATBC-containing plastics or excessive ATBC contact. Full article

The microbial production of 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO), a versatile platform chemical with extensive industrial applications, remains limited by suboptimal fermentation titers and incomplete understanding of metabolic bottlenecks. To address these challenges, this study employed comparative transcriptomics to systematically identify novel genetic targets capable of enhancing 1,5-PDO biosynthesis in engineered Escherichia coli. Transcriptomic profiling of the 1,5-PDO-producing strain relative to the parental E. coli W3110, conducted at both exponential (24 h) and stationary (96 h) growth phases, revealed 1384 significantly differentially expressed genes, including 851 upregulated and 533 downregulated genes. From these, 20 candidate metabolic genes associated with 1,5-PDO synthesis were selected for functional validation through plasmid-based overexpression or CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-mediated repression. Reverse engineering confirmed that overexpression of fecA (encoding an iron(III)-citrate transporter) and deletion of gadA (encoding glutamate decarboxylase) significantly enhanced 1,5-PDO production. Subsequent chromosomal integration of fecA at the neutral ilvG locus and deletion of gadA generated the optimized strain S7, which achieved a 1,5-PDO titer of 1.7 g/L in shake flask cultures, representing a 13.3% increase over the parental strain, with a concomitant 50% improvement in glucose yield (0.18 mol/mol). In fed-batch fermentation at the 5 L bioreactor scale, strain S7 attained a titer of 12.45 g/L and a glucose yield of 0.26 mol/mol, marking a 15.6% enhancement in carbon conversion efficiency relative to the parental strain (0.225 mol/mol), while concurrently improving biomass accumulation by 7.6%. These findings demonstrate that transcriptomics-guided reverse engineering constitutes an effective strategy for elucidating nonobvious metabolic determinants and optimizing microbial cell factories for efficient 1,5-PDO production. The identification of fecA and gadA as beneficial targets provides valuable insights into the metabolic rewiring underlying enhanced 1,5-PDO biosynthesis and establishes a foundation for further strain improvement through systems metabolic engineering. Full article

Background: Main risk factors associated with the development of sarcopenia (coexistence of muscle mass loss and dysfunction) are a sedentary lifestyle coupled with obesity. Associated mitochondrial dysfunction leads to energy deficits and perturbations in the balance between protein synthesis and degradation, thereby triggering muscle dysfunction or atrophy. Aside from exercise, which is challenging to implement and maintain, particularly in women, treatments for diminishing sarcopenia are scarce. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the flavanol (−)-epicatechin (EC) in a hypercaloric diet-induced obese female rat model. Muscle strength and endurance, as well as relative mitochondrial DNA content in skeletal muscle, were assessed. Methods: Female rats were fed a hypercaloric diet to induce obesity, as evidenced by increases in body weight, Lee index, and lipid profile alterations, and by abdominal fat accumulation, and to promote a sarcopenic phenotype. Functional tests of grip strength and mobility (treadmill) were performed. Mitochondrial relative content was evaluated by measuring the ratio of mtDNA/nuclear DNA, and the expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis (Pgc1-α, Tfam), fusion (Mfn1 and Opa1), fission (Drp1 and Fis1), and mitophagy (Pink1 and Pkn), and function; citrate synthase and Ucp3 were also evaluated. Results: A significant decrease in mobility and strength was observed in obese female rats, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial numbers, activity, and dynamics, but not by changes in muscle size or weight. Treatment with EC induced mitochondrial biogenesis and positive changes in mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) and activity, as measured indirectly by changes in citrate synthase and Ucp3 expression. Discussion: Results reinforce the potential of EC as a modulator of mitochondrial function in dysfunctional conditions associated with obesity, thereby attenuating the mechanisms underlying sarcopenia. Full article

This study investigated the preservative effect and molecular mechanism of cold-air pre-cooling (CAP) combined with storage at 15 °C/85% relative humidity on Volvariella volvacea. CAP significantly reduced weight loss and browning, maintained moderate respiratory intensity, minimised malondialdehyde accumulation and polyphenol oxidase activity, and preserved higher firmness and soluble-protein content, extending the shelf life by 4 d. An analysis of energy metabolism indices revealed that CAP increased mitochondrial quantity, membrane potential, and ATP content. Specifically, CAP restricted the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate by downregulating the activities of succinate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase. Additionally, CAP prevented the peak activation of respiratory complex I, while sustaining optimal activity of complexes III and IV, thereby stabilising intracellular ATP levels. Transcriptomic analysis further indicated that CAP suppressed the activity of the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation pathways during postharvest storage. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) validated the downregulation of genes associated with respiratory complexes after CAP treatment. In conclusion, CAP maintained the postharvest quality of V. volvacea by preserving energy metabolism homeostasis, providing a theoretical basis for its application in edible mushroom preservation. Full article

Background: Citrus components potentially suppress adipogenic differentiation and lipid accumulation, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We hypothesized that the bioactive compounds in Citrus junos Sieb ex Tanaka (yuzu) fruit peel can alter the systemic metabolism and productivity of beef cattle. Methods: Japanese Brown (JBR) steers were fed with a diet supplemented with 2.5% yuzu peel during the last month of the finishing period. To investigate the effect of dietary yuzu supplementation (DYS) on beef and liver metabolism, we explored the metabolomic profiles of longissimus thoracis (LT, loin) muscle at 14 d postmortem using capillary electrophoresis (CE-TOF/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS). Results: The DYS treatment enhanced the beef fat score compared to that recorded in beef in the no-DYS (None) group (p = 0.050); however, the other carcass quality traits were not significantly different between the DYS and None groups. CE-TOF/MS and LC-TOF/MS revealed 242 and 107 annotated peaks, respectively, for the LT muscle. DYS significantly increased 9(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE, a beef flavor precursor), cyclo(-Leu-Pro), spermidine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and 7α-hydroxycholesterol levels and reduced 2-ethylhydracrylic acid (2-EHAA), γ-tocopherol, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), sphingomyelin(d18:1/16:0), Cys-Gly, Tyr-Arg, and palmitoylcarnitine levels in postmortem LT muscle (p < 0.050). Concomitantly, in the fresh liver, DYS increased acetyl-CoA, 6-phosphogluconic acid, S-methylglutathione, ATP, ribulose 5-phosphate, and ADP levels and suppressed the content of thiamine, Ala-Ala, riboflavin, and ascorbate 2-sulfate (p < 0.050). Conclusion: Collectively, yuzu ingredients activated ATP production in the liver through the elevation of hepatic energy metabolism primarily in the citrate cycle and β-oxidation, and potentially altered muscle metabolism, including linoleic acid oxidation, FAD-mediated electron transport chain, and isoleucine catabolism, as demonstrated in the reduced accumulation of 2-EHAA and CoQ10 in DYS beef. Moreover, DYS likely affects the gut microbiome by enhancing the production of cyclo(-Leu-Pro), an antimicrobial dipeptide. Full article

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH) is traditionally recognized as both an edible and medicinal food source. Its rhizomes contain numerous bioactive compounds, notably polysaccharides and flavonoids, which serve as key constituents in functional food development. However, the cultivation of PCH is often hindered by allelopathic effects, which diminish its quality and restrict its industrial application. To mitigate these allelopathic influences, three types of biochars derived from maize straw (MB), rice husk (RB), and tea stem (TB) were applied at concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 4%. Initially, the physicochemical properties of these biochars were characterized, followed by an evaluation of their impact on (1) the synthesis of quality-related components, secondary metabolites, and allelochemicals within PCH rhizomes and (2) the fundamental physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure of the PCH rhizosphere soil. The findings indicated that the application of 4% RB significantly enhanced the content of total polysaccharides by 48.5%, total flavonoids by 30.2%, total saponins by 28.6%, and total polyphenols by 18.3%, while concurrently reducing protein (PRO) and free amino acid (FAA) concentrations in the rhizomes. Non-targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that biochar amendments (1) upregulated metabolites involved in the citrate cycle and galactose metabolism pathways, thereby facilitating energy supply and precursors for polysaccharide biosynthesis; (2) downregulated metabolites involved in the arginine biosynthesis pathway, which is unfavorable for protein and amino acid synthesis; (3) decreased the abundance of six identified allelochemicals, including 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and andrographolide, with the most pronounced effect observed in the 4% TB treatment (T2); (4) improved soil physicochemical parameters such as pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and available potassium (AK); and (5) altered the rhizosphere bacterial community by enriching beneficial phyla, notably Myxococcota and Gemmatimonadota. These modifications in soil properties and bacterial community composition were closely associated with enhanced rhizome quality and a reduction in allelochemical accumulation. Collectively, the results of this study elucidate the potential mechanisms linking biochar application to allelopathy mitigation, optimization of soil microbial communities, and improvement of PCH rhizome quality. This research provides a theoretical basis for the production of high-quality PCH while concurrently minimizing allelochemical accumulation in its rhizomes. Full article

Molybdenum (Mo) is currently considered as a potential diffusion barrier material for copper (Cu) interconnects, and these interconnect structures are generally processed using the technique of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). While a limited number of publications on Mo CMP are presently available, the considerations for mitigating CMP-induced galvanic corrosion of Mo have remained largely underexplored. Using a model CMP system in pH-neutral slurries of citric acid with silica abrasives, the present work demonstrates how Mo barrier lines in contact with Cu wires in the CMP environment can develop CMP defects of galvanic corrosion. Including imidazole in the slurry considerably reduces the galvanic current of this corrosion process. The mechanisms of galvanic inhibition and material removal are examined by employing strategic tribo-electrochemical measurements. Open-circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization measurements performed under surface abrasion aid the characterization of CMP-enabling surface reactions. The slurry’s surface chemistry initiates the primary modes of material wear for CMP, and corrosion-induced propagation of subsurface wear mostly governs the measured material removal rates for both Mo and Cu. Although the Cu:Mo selectivity of material removal is affected as the galvanic corrosion of Mo is suppressed, this effect can be controlled by varying the slurry content of imidazole. Full article

This paper reports initial experimental results related to the preparation of colored anodic titania thin layers using various deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based formulations. Electrolytes based on choline dihydrogen citrate–oxalic acid–ethylene glycol (1:1:1 molar ratio), choline chloride–oxalic acid (1:1 molar ratio) and choline chloride–lactic acid (1:2 molar ratio) eutectic mixtures were investigated. The anodization has been performed at constant voltage in a range of 10–100 V for various periods of time between 1 and 5 min at room temperature under mild stirring. A brief description of anodization procedures, as well as of some characteristics, from appearance and morphological viewpoints, is presented. A quantitative analysis of color characteristics in relation to the DES-based electrolyte and applied voltage using the CIELAB system is also discussed. The achieved chromatic scale follows this order of colors: golden—blue—light blue—light blue/green—pink—violet. This depends on the applied potential and the DES-based electrolyte. The films present a relatively high brightness and color saturation. The hue vs. anodization voltage diagrams suggest an almost linear dependence of the oxide growth measured against the applied voltage. The corrosion performance has been assessed through continuous immersion tests in (i) 0.5 M NaCl for 240 h and (ii) Hank’s biological solution for 96 h with intermediate visual examinations and recording corrosion potential, as well as potentiodynamic polarization curves and impedance spectra at open circuit potential. Different corrosion performances are discussed considering the aggressive medium involved and the used DES-based systems. Full article

Gut disorders are largely caused by iron-induced microbial dysbiosis. Excess iron disrupts barrier integrity by inducing oxidative stress, leading to impaired cellular processes. The determination of therapeutic compounds that can reduce iron-induced damage and maintain gut cellular integrity is still a top objective. Dimercaprol (DP) represents a novel iron-chelating strategy for the treatment of iron-induced gut disorders. A chronic iron-overload model was established in mice via intragastric gavage of ferric citrate (FC) (286 mg/kg BW) for 16 weeks. Similarly, IPEC-J2 cells were exposed to FC (50 µmol/L) for 24 h. DP was used as a mechanistic probe to elucidate the pathways involved in iron-induced toxicity. Cells were transfected with or without NRF2 siRNA and exposed to DP post-FC. Colonic contents were assessed via metagenomics and metabolomics. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were analyzed through a multifaceted analysis, Western blot, RT-qPCR, ELISA, transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence assays. Thiols in DP protect gut cells from damage by boosting their natural antioxidant defenses via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway. The DP mechanism of action is multifaceted, including enhancement of barrier integrity, protecting mitochondrial structure and function, suppression of inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and restoration of gut microbial and metabolic homeostasis. These protective effects are mainly caused by the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, which makes DP a potential therapeutic agent for disorders caused by chronic gut injury induced by FC. DP provides strong protection against iron-induced gut damage by restoring organelle crosstalk, redox homeostasis and microbial–metabolic balance through NRF2/HO-1 signaling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a strong biomarker of ovarian reserve and oocyte pools, it is unknown whether high AMH levels can be a reliable predictor of oocyte quality, ovulation, and embryo quality. We aimed to determine whether there is any AMH threshold value that can be used to predict treatment success in women with clomiphene citrate (CC) resistance or failure in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 93 infertile women with PCOS who had been previously diagnosed with CC failure or CC resistance between May 2017 and June 2018. Prior to treatment, AMH concentration was measured in all women. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to their conception after ovulation induction (OI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). At the end of a one-year period, the medical files were assessed retrospectively. Those with and without pregnancy were compared in terms of treatment protocols, infertility periods, laboratory parameters and AMH levels. Results: Clinical and biochemical characteristics of 36 pregnant women were compared with those of 57 non-pregnant women. The results showed that the pregnant group had significantly shorter infertility periods and longer ovarian stimulations than the non-pregnant group (p < 0.05). Serum AMH levels > 4.5 ng/mL can predict OI and IUI outcome in this specific patient population, with a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 69%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only AMH was identified as an independent predictor of pregnancy [OR = 1.151 (95% CI: 1.034–1.280), p = 0.010]. Conclusions: Serum AMH may serve as an adjunct predictor of OI and IUI outcomes in infertile women with PCOS who failed to conceive after ≥3 cycles of CC. However, its predictive value appears to be context-dependent and should be interpreted cautiously in clinical practice. Given the distinct clinical characteristics of this patient population, individualized treatment strategies and consideration of earlier alternative therapeutic approaches may be warranted to optimize reproductive outcomes. Full article