Search Results (6,415)

Spawning diversity plays an essential role in fish survival and reproduction, which contributes to the exceptional diversity of teleosts among vertebrates. Different zona radiata structures reflect the adaptability of fish to the environment of spawning and early embryonic development. The morphological and transcriptional characteristics of fish follicle development between different spawning habits, particularly the zona radiata variations, have been poorly documented. In this study, we integrated histology and transcriptomics to investigate the differences in the zona radiata structure and gene expression profiles among follicles from different spawning habits of Culter alburnus. Our results revealed that stage Ⅲ was the crucial period for zona radiata thickening and structure differentiation. Transcriptomic analyses of adhesive and semi-buoyant eggs at stage Ⅲ revealed a significant upregulation of genes involved in glycoprotein synthesis, extracellular matrix formation, and regulation of protease activity in adhesive eggs, such as the wfdc and a2ml gene family. This upregulation likely underpins the thicker zona radiata in adhesive eggs, facilitating their attachment to substrates. This study represents the first elucidation of the ultrastructure of the zona radiata and gene expression patterns in different developmental stages of adhesive and semi-buoyant eggs of Culter alburnus, offering new perspectives for aquaculture research in understanding fish reproductive adaptations. Full article

(1) Background: Polyploid fish are highly important in increasing fish production, improving fish quality, and breeding new varieties. The loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), as a naturally polyploid fish, serves as an ideal biological model for investigating the mechanisms of chromosome doubling; (2) Methods: In this study, tetraploidization in diploid loach was induced by heat shock treatment, and, for the first time, the role of the key cell cycle gene cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) in chromosome doubling was investigated; (3) Results: The experimental results show that when eggs are fertilized for 20 min and then subjected to a 4 min heat shock treatment at 39–40 °C, this represents the optimal induction condition, resulting in a tetraploid rate of 44%. Meanwhile, the results of the cdk1 knockout model (2n cdk1^−/−) constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 showed that the absence of cdk1 significantly increased the chromosome doubling efficiency of the loach. The qPCR analysis revealed that knockout of cdk1 significantly upregulated cyclin genes (ccnb3,ccnc, and ccne1), while inhibiting expression of the separase gene espl1 (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: During chromosome doubling in diploid loaches induced by heat shock, knocking out the cdk1 gene can increase the tetraploid induction rate. This effect may occur through downregulation of the espl1 gene. This study offers novel insights into optimizing the induced breeding technology of polyploid fish and deciphering its molecular mechanism, while highlighting the potential application of integrating gene editing with physical induction. Full article

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are well known for their roles in herbivore deterrence and attraction of natural enemies, but their direct impact on insect reproduction remains largely unexplored. In this study, we provide novel evidence that two representative HIPVs, 2-heptanol and α-cedrene, exert opposing effects on the reproduction of Chilo suppressalis, a major rice pest. While both volatiles repelled adults, α-cedrene unexpectedly enhanced oviposition, whereas 2-heptanol significantly suppressed egg laying. To examine these effects, we conducted oviposition assays, preoviposition and longevity tests, combined with qPCR and transcriptome analyses to explore underlying molecular responses. Mechanistically, α-cedrene upregulated Kr-h1, a gene linked to juvenile hormone signaling and vitellogenesis, promoting reproductive investment. Transcriptomic profiling revealed divergent molecular responses: α-cedrene activated reproductive pathways, whereas 2-heptanol induced stress- and immune-related genes, suggesting a trade-off between stress defense and reproduction. These findings demonstrate that HIPVs can exert compound-specific reproductive effects beyond repellency. This work fills a key knowledge gap and highlights the potential of HIPVs as precision tools in pest management strategies that exploit behavioral and physiological vulnerabilities beyond repellency. Full article

Outdoor access, often referred to as pop holes, is widely used to improve the production and welfare of hens. Such cage-free environments present an opportunity for precision flock management via best environmental control practices. However, outdoor access disrupts the integrity of the indoor environment, including properly planned ventilation. Moreover, complaints exist that hens do not use the holes to access the outdoor environment due to the strong incoming airflow through the outdoor access, as they behave as uncontrolled air inlets in a negative pressure ventilation system. As the egg industry transitions to cage-free systems, there is an urgent need for validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to optimize ventilation strategies that balance animal welfare, environmental control, and production efficiency. We developed and validated CFD models of a cage-free hen house with outdoor access by specifying real-world conditions, including two exhaust fans, sidewall ventilation inlets, wire-meshed pens, outdoor access, and plenum inlets. The simulations of four ventilation scenarios predict the measured air flow velocity with an error of less than 50% for three of the scenarios, and the simulations predict temperature with an error of less than 6% for all scenarios. Plenum-based systems outperformed sidewall systems by up to 136.3 air changes per hour, while positive pressure ventilation effectively mitigated disruptions to outdoor access. We expect that knowledge of improved ventilation strategy will help the egg industry improve the welfare of hens cost-effectively. Full article

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a globally destructive plant-parasitic nematode that severely impedes the sustainable production of horticultural crops. Metabolic reprogramming in plant roots represents the host response to M. incognita infection that can also be exploited by the nematode to facilitate its parasitism. In this study, untargeted metabolomics was employed to analyze metabolic changes in cucumber roots following nematode inoculation, with the goal of identifying differentially accumulated metabolites that may influence M. incognita behavior. Metabolomic analysis revealed that M. incognita significantly altered the cucumber root metabolome, triggering an accumulation of lipids and organic acids and enriching biotic stress-related pathways such as alkaloid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism. Among differentially accumulated metabolites, myristic acid and hexadecanal were selected for further study due to their potential roles in nematode inhibition. In vitro assays demonstrated that both metabolites suppressed egg hatching and reduced infectivity of M. incognita, while pot experiments indicated a correlation between their application and reduced root gall formation. Chemotaxis assays further revealed that both metabolites exerted repellent effects on the chemotactic migration of M. incognita J2 and suppressed the transcriptional expression of two motility-and feeding-related neuropeptides, Mi-flp-1 and Mi-flp-18. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the significant potential of differentially accumulated metabolites induced by M. incognita infection for nematode disease control, achieved by interfering with nematode chemotaxis and subsequent infection. This work also provides deeper insights into the metabolomic mechanisms underlying the cucumber-M. incognita interaction. Full article

Over the years, macromycete fungi have been used as a source of food, part of religious rites and rituals, and as a medicinal remedy. Species with strong health-promoting potential include Hericium erinaceus, Cordyceps militaris, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammulina velutipes, and Inonotus obliquus. These species contain many bioactive compounds, including β-glucans, endo- and exogenous amino acids, polyphenols, terpenoids, sterols, B vitamins, minerals, and lovastatin. The level of some biologically active substances is species-specific, e.g., hericenones and erinacines, which have neuroprotective properties, and supporting the production of nerve growth factor in the brain for Hericium erinaceus. Due to their high health-promoting potential, mushrooms and substances isolated from them have found applications in livestock nutrition, improving their welfare and productivity. This phenomenon may be of particular importance in the nutrition of laying hens and broiler chickens, where an increase in pathogen resistance to antibiotics has been observed in recent years. Gallus gallus domesticus is a key farm animal for meat and egg production, so the search for new compounds to support bird health is important for food safety. Studies conducted to date indicate that feed supplementation with mushrooms has a beneficial effect on, among other things, bird weight gain; bone mineralisation; and meat and egg quality, including the lipid profile and protein content and shell thickness, and promotes the development of beneficial microbiota, thereby increasing immunity. Full article

The collection of perivitelline fluid (PVF) from early-stage post-activation zebrafish (Danio rerio) eggs/embryos poses a significant challenge owing to the liability of the egg/embryo to sustain damage and rupture during handling. Rupture of the blastoderm and/or yolk presents a major risk of PVF sample contamination. Previous efforts to extract PVF at such early stages have employed formalin fixation to enhance the structural integrity of the blastoderm and yolk syncytial layer, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination. While this approach successfully mitigates blastoderm and yolk rupture, formaldehyde fixation may cause issues with downstream proteomic analyses. Recent findings indicate that zebrafish PVF contains a range of maternally inherited proteins involved in innate immune defence. However, current extraction methods compromise the reliability of downstream protein analyses, raising concerns that fixation-induced protein crosslinking may obscure the presence of maternally inherited proteins during the earliest stages of development. The micro-aspiration technique described here allows for the precise extraction of PVF from living, water-activated eggs with minimal disruption to the blastodisc and yolk. This method reduces the risk of contamination from other non-target proteinaceous egg sources and eliminates the need for formalin fixation, thereby improving the integrity of PVF samples and enhancing the reliability of subsequent downstream analyses. Full article

We present a model that integrates the mapping of the phenology and climatic suitability for the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), to provide guidance on when and where to conduct surveillance and management of this highly invasive pest. The model was designed for use in the Degree-Day, Establishment Risk, and Phenological Event Maps (DDRP) platform, which is an open-source decision support tool to help to detect, monitor, and manage invasive threats. We validated the model using presence records and phenological observations derived from monitoring studies and the iNaturalist database. The model performed well, with more than >99.9% of the presence records included in the potential distribution for North America, a large proportion of the iNaturalist observations correctly predicted, and a low error rate for dates of the first appearance of adults. Cold and heat stresses were insufficient to exclude the SLF from most areas of the conterminous United States (CONUS), but an inability for the pest to complete its life cycle in cold areas may hinder establishment. The appearance of adults occurred several months earlier in warmer regions of North America and Europe, which suggests that host plants in these areas may experience stronger feeding pressure. The near-real-time forecasts produced by the model are available at USPest.org and the USA National Phenology Network to support decision making for the CONUS. Forecasts of egg hatch and the appearance of adults are particularly relevant for surveillance to prevent new establishments and for managing existing populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Understanding the impact of dietary habits in terms of obesity, health outcomes, and functional decline is critical in Europe’s growing elderly population. This study analyzed trends in Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence, obesity prevalence, and grip strength among middle-aged and elderly Europeans using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Methods: Data from four SHARE waves (2015–2022) across 28 countries were analyzed. Dietary patterns were assessed through food frequency questionnaires classifying participants as MD-adherent or non-adherent where adherent implies daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and occasional (3–6 times/week) intake of eggs, beans, legumes, meat, fish, or poultry (an unvalidated definition of the MD pattern). Handgrip strength, a biomarker of functional capacity, was categorized into low, medium, and high groups. Body mass index (BMI), self-perceived health (SPHUS), chronic disease prevalence, and CASP-12 scores (control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure evaluated on the 12-item version) were also evaluated. Statistical analyses included descriptive methods, logistic regressions, and multiple imputations to address missing data. Results: A significant majority (74–77%) consumed fruits and vegetables daily, which is consistent with MD principles; however, the high daily intake of dairy products (>50%) indicates limited adherence to the MD, which advocates for moderate consumption of dairy products. Logistic regression indicated that individuals with two or more chronic diseases were more likely to follow the MD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.32), as were those individuals who rated their SPHUS as very good/excellent ([OR] = 1.42, [CI] = 1.20–1.69). Medium and high maximal handgrip were also strongly and consistently associated with higher odds of MD adherence (Medium: [OR] = 1.44, [CI] = 1.18–1.74; High: [OR] = 1.27, [CI] = 1.10–1.48). Conclusions: The findings suggest that middle-aged and older adults are more likely to adhere to the MD dietary pattern if they have more than two chronic diseases, are physically active, and have a medium or high handgrip. Although an unvalidated definition of the MD dietary pattern was used, the results highlight the importance of implementing targeted dietary strategies for middle-aged and elderly adults. Full article

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest of many fruit crops worldwide. Employing the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) could mitigate D. suzukii population growth and crop damage. This study evaluated the efficacy of SIT on commercial fruit, by (1) validating the quality of irradiated sterile males (male mating competitiveness, courtship, and flight performance) in the laboratory, and (2) assessing population suppression and fruit damage reduction in commercial raspberry fields. Treatment with SIT was compared to the grower’s standard chemical insecticide program throughout the season. The principal metrics of efficacy were trap counts of wild adult female D. suzukii in crops and larvae per fruit during harvesting. These metrics together with monitoring of border areas allowed targeting of high-pressure areas with higher releases of sterile males, to maximise efficacy for a given release number. The sterile male D. suzukii were as competitive as their fertile non-irradiated counterparts in laboratory mating competitiveness and flight performance studies while fertility egg-to-pupae recovery was reduced by 99%. In commercial raspberry crops, season-long releases of sterile males significantly suppressed the wild D. suzukii population, compared to the grower standard control strategy; with up to 89% reduction in wild female D. suzukii and 80% decrease in numbers of larvae per harvested fruit. Additionally, relative fruit waste (i.e., percentage of harvested fruits rejected for sale) at harvest was reduced for early, mid and late harvest crops, by up to 58% compared to the grower standard control. SIT has the potential to provide an effective and sustainable strategy for managing D. suzukii in raspberries, increasing marketable yield by reducing adult populations, fruit damage and waste fruit. SIT could therefore serve as a valuable tool for integrated pest management practices in berry production systems. Full article

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of sustainable polylactic acid (PLA)-based biocomposites reinforced with bio-origin fillers derived from food waste: seashells, eggshells, walnut shells, and spent coffee grounds. All fillers were introduced at 15 wt% into a commercial PLA matrix modified with a compatibilizer to improve interfacial adhesion. Mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact strength), morphological characteristics (via SEM), and hydrolytic aging behavior were evaluated. Among the tested systems, PLA reinforced with seashells (PLA15S) and coffee grounds (PLA15C) demonstrated the most balanced mechanical performance, with PLA15S achieving a tensile strength increase of 72% compared to neat PLA. Notably, PLA15C exhibited the highest stability after 28 days of hydrothermal aging, retaining ~36% of its initial tensile strength, outperforming other systems. In contrast, walnut-shell-filled composites showed the most severe degradation, losing over 98% of their mechanical strength after aging. The results indicate that both the physicochemical nature and morphology of the biofiller play critical roles in determining mechanical reinforcement and degradation resistance. This research underlines the feasibility of valorizing agri-food residues into biodegradable, semi-structural PLA composites for potential use in sustainable packaging or non-load-bearing structural applications. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal that disrupts development and reproduction, primarily through oxidative stress. In this context, sulforaphane (SFN), an antioxidant compound, may serve as a promising agent to counteract Cd-induced oxidative damage and prevent developmental and reproductive abnormalities. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SFN on reproductive toxicity induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Five experimental groups were established: (I) Control: no treatment, (II) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO): 48 h with 0.01% DMSO, (III) CdCl₂: 24 h with 4600 µM CdCl₂, (IV) SFN + CdCl₂: 24 h with 100 µM SFN followed by 24 h with both SFN and CdCl₂, and (V) SFN: 48 h with 100 µM SFN. Co-exposure to SFN and CdCl₂ prevented the reduction in the percentage of adult nematodes and increased egg-laying. It also significantly improved hatching rates, allowing more embryos to reach the larval stage, and prevented reductions in body size. However, no effects were observed on glutathione S-transferase-4 (GST-4) levels in the transgenic CL2166 strain. In conclusion, SFN substantially prevents Cd-induced reproductive toxicity in C. elegans. Future studies should investigate the molecular mechanisms by which SFN enhances egg-laying and offspring viability in this model. Full article

Coyaima is a town in the department of Tolima, Colombia, that was prioritized in a pilot program under Colombia’s National Plan for the Control of the Taeniasis/Cysticercosis Complex, focusing on this neglected health issue. The project engaged local indigenous communities, promoting education and outreach within the One Health framework. The study included 444 randomly selected volunteers, who filled a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey on the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex. The baseline study found no Taenia spp. eggs via microscopy on 383 stool samples examined, and no T. solium DNA was detected on human stool and soil samples by Copro-qPCR. However, seroprevalence was 8.5% for human cysticercosis and 14% for porcine cysticercosis, as detected by in-house ELISA testing for T. solium. Moreover, 57.9% of participants who provided a stool sample were positive for at least one parasite. Following the sampling and characterization activities, local health workers implemented mass treatment with Niclosamide, based on evidence of ongoing transmission, high porcine seroprevalence, poor basic sanitation, and the presence of free-roaming pigs reported in the KAP survey. These findings provide scientific evidence to apply national public health policies for controlling taeniasis/cysticercosis complex in Coyaima. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetically produced chemicals that are causing a major One Health crisis. These “forever chemicals” are widely distributed globally in air, water, and soil, and because they are highly mobile and extremely difficult to degrade in the environment. They cause additional health concerns in a circular bioeconomy and food system that recycles and reuses by-products and numerous types of waste materials. Uptake of PFAS by plants and food-producing animals ultimately leads to the consumption of PFAS-contaminated food that is associated with numerous adverse health and developmental effects in humans. Contaminated meat, milk, and eggs are some of the main sources of human PFAS exposure. Although there is no safe level of PFAS exposure, maximum tolerable PFAS consumption guidelines have been established for some countries. However, there is no international PFAS monitoring system, and there are no standardized international guidelines and mechanisms to prevent the consumption of PFAS-contaminated foods. Urgent action is needed to stop PFAS production except for critical uses, implementing effective water-purification treatments, preventing spreading sewage sludge on land and pastures used to produce food, and requiring marketers and manufacturers to use packaging that is free of PFAS. Full article

This study evaluated the production performance and egg quality of Lohmann Brown laying hens fed diets containing different levels of Corn Bran with Solubles (CBS). A total of 144 hens aged 44 weeks were assigned to three treatments in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment and six birds per replicate. The experimental treatments included diets with CBS inclusion levels of 0%, 5%, and 10%. The experiment lasted 84 days (44 to 55 weeks of age). Data were analyzed via one-way ANOVA, with mean differences evaluated using Tukey’s HSD test (α = 0.05). No significant effects were observed for laying rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or egg mass (p > 0.05). However, egg quality parameters such as shell percentage, shell weight per unit surface area (SWUSA), and yolk color were influenced by the treatments (p < 0.05). Hens fed diets with 5% CBS exhibited higher shell percentage and SWUSA compared to those on the 0% CBS diet. Yolk color intensity increased with higher CBS inclusion levels. In conclusion, incorporating up to 10% CBS in corn–soybean meal diets for laying hens can enhance egg yolk pigmentation. Notably, including 5% CBS improves eggshell quality. Full article