Search Results (7,496)

Background: Endophytic fungi are important sources of structurally diverse antimicrobial natural products, but their potential to yield antitubercular scaffolds remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to uncover new decalin polyketides from the endophytic fungus, Trichoderma longicollum 17007, and to evaluate their biological activity. Methods: Feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) analysis of the ethyl acetate extract from rice-based cultures was performed using trichoharzin as a seed compound to guide targeted isolation. Structures were established by HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, NOESY analysis, and quantum chemical ECD calculations. Cytotoxicity and activity against the avirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra strain were evaluated, and genome mining was performed to identify a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster. Results: Six new decalin polyketides, tandyukisins K–P (1–6), and two known analogues, trichoharzin (7) and tandyukisin J (8), were isolated. Compounds 1–6 are C1-O-acetylated analogues bearing a 3-methylpentenedioate-type acyl side chain. Comparative ¹³C NMR analysis revealed empirical features useful for assigning side-chain attachment site, double-bond position and geometry. Tandyukisins K (1) and P (6) showed moderate activity against the avirulent M. tuberculosis H37Ra strain, with a MIC value of 12.5 μg/mL. Conclusions: These findings expand the structural diversity of decalin polyketides and provide the first evidence of antitubercular activity by this compound family. Full article

Plant-based healing practices integrate botanical resources, ritual speech, gesture, faith, spiritual mediation, protection, and social recognition within complex community systems of care. This cross-regional scoping review mapped the traceable literature on plant-based knowledge associated with benzedeiras, benzedores, rezadeiras, rezadores, and functionally analogous specialists. The formal scoping-review corpus comprised 54 records retrieved through structured database searches. A separate contextual layer of 132 supplementary records, identified through citation tracking and targeted searches using emic specialist terms, broadened interpretation but was not treated as methodologically equivalent to the PRISMA-derived corpus. Across the 186 analytical records, 74 harmonized specialist terms and 212 botanical entries associated with therapeutic, ritual, spiritual, or community-based practices were identified. The botanical matrix comprised 68 families and 166 genera, with Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Fabaceae as the most represented families. The results reveal terminological diversity, regional asymmetries in documentation, and the predominance of broad labels alongside terms with greater emic density. Plants operate as pharmacological resources, ritual supports, spiritual mediators, instruments of protection, territorial markers, and performative elements of healing. These specialists should be understood as mediators of complex therapeutic systems. The findings represent the indexed and traceable supplementary literature analyzed and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of ritual healing traditions worldwide. Full article

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) constitutes a pivotal transcription factor family that modulates plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses. Oat (Avena sativa L.) is an economically vital cereal crop and a major livestock forage globally. Nevertheless, the NF-Y gene family has not yet been systematically characterized in the oat genome. Here, we identified 36 AsNF-Y genes in the oat genome and categorized them into three distinct subfamilies (NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC). Phylogeny, gene structure, duplication, collinearity, and conserved motif analyses revealed high evolutionary conservation of this gene family. Additionally, the identification of diverse cis-acting regulatory elements in the promoters of AsNF-Y genes, combined with their differential expression profiles under multiple abiotic stress conditions, indicated that AsNF-Ys serve as crucial regulators in modulating oat abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, preliminary functional validation via the TRV-VIGS system confirmed that two candidate genes, AsNF-YC02 and AsNF-YC06, may positively regulate salt tolerance in oat. Collectively, our findings deepen the understanding of NF-Y genes in gramineous crops and supply promising candidates for the genetic improvement of oat stress tolerance and molecular breeding. Full article

The Annonaceae family in Mexico comprises a wide diversity of species with economic, cultural, agricultural, and pharmacological importance; however, research on this group remains fragmented. Therefore, this study analyzed the scientific output on Annonaceae in Mexico using a bibliometric approach. A total of 342 articles published between 1980 and 2025 in the Web of Science were retrieved and analyzed using VOSviewer version 1.6.16. The results showed a sustained increase in annual scientific production; approximately 90% of the articles were published in Q1 journals, with impact factors ranging from 1.3 to 13.4, highlighting the scientific relevance of this family. The main research areas were plant sciences, agriculture, biochemistry and molecular biology, entomology, and food science and technology. Emerging topics focused on the antitumor potential of species such as Annona muricata, A. cherimola, A. coriacea, and A. purpurea. Research on Annonaceae in Mexico has expanded in a multidisciplinary manner, although limited interaction between different areas and institutions persists. This field offers opportunities for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and the development of biotechnological and pharmacological applications. Full article

Background: The genus Anomala is exceptionally species-rich and includes many species recognized as major agricultural and forest pests. Nevertheless, the taxonomic status of certain species remains contentious, and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus are still poorly resolved and in need of further investigation. Objectives: To better elucidate the evolutionary relationships among these insects, we assembled the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of four Anomala species—A. aulax, Anomala sp., A. vitalisi, and A. xantholoma. Multiple molecular datasets were integrated to reconstruct the phylogenetic framework of Scarabaeidae. Methods: Wild adult specimens of four Anomala species were collected. After total DNA extraction, complete mitogenomes were assembled and annotated for comparative analysis of core genomic traits. Multiple datasets were applied to construct phylogenetic trees via maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, so as to evaluate the evolutionary characteristics of each taxon. Results: Our analyses reveal that the mitogenomes of Anomala species exhibit a conserved architecture, characterized by similarities in genome size, AT nucleotide bias, and gene order, suggesting a high degree of evolutionary stability within the genus. The resulting phylogenetic trees robustly support the monophyly of the following families: Passalidae, Lucanidae, Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Hybosoridae, and Glaphyridae. Additionally, the phylogenetic findings revealed the paraphyly of both Scarabaeidae and Anomala, and further suggested that Melolonthinae is likely a paraphyletic group. Conclusions: This study enriches the currently available mitogenomic data and provides a preliminary foundation for understanding the phylogeny, resource conservation, and genetic diversity of Anomala. Full article

This research focused on understanding the diversity of macrofungi in the “Tingana Conservation Concession” in San Martín, Peru, a unique flooded forest located at approximately 900 m a.s.l. in the Andean-Amazonian foothills. Three study areas were included: Sparse Aguajal, Semi-dense Aguajal, and Broadleaf Evergreen Forest. These were sampled using random transects; 19 macrofungi were identified to species level and 20 to genus level, distributed in 8 orders, 19 families, and 27 genera. The most diverse orders were Agaricales and Polyporales; the most representative families were Polyporaceae (11) and Psathyrellaceae (4). At a generic level, the most diverse was Lentinus, with a total of 5 species identified. These findings highlight the diversity and ecological importance of fungi in the decomposition of organic matter and the nutrient cycle in peatlands, which are key carbon-storing ecosystems. This study underlines the need for more research focused on inventorying fungi for the conservation of this type of ecosystem. Full article

The growing diversification of family structures has increased the prevalence of stepfamilies, yet implicit representations of stepfather and stepmother figures remain understudied, particularly among adolescents and emerging adults. This study examines these representations, considering the influence of gender, developmental group, and prior stepfamily experience. A cross-sectional, ex post facto quantitative design was used with 372 participants aged 15–25 (198 women, 174 men), divided into adolescents (15–18 years) and emerging adults (19–25 years). Participants completed an adapted questionnaire measuring implicit representations across three dimensions: structural-conjugal, affective-relational, and parental-functional. Exploratory factor analyses confirmed the instrument’s three-factor structure for both stepfigures. Both figures were primarily associated with the parental-functional and structural-conjugal dimensions. Women assigned greater relevance to the affective-relational dimension of the stepmother figure. Participants without stepfamily experience showed more idealized representations of both figures across the affective-relational and parental-functional dimensions. Minor differences between developmental groups emerged only for the parental-functional dimension of the stepfather figure. Implicit representations of stepfathers and stepmothers remain shaped by sociocultural processes linked to gender, parenthood, and care, reflecting persistent differential expectations regarding emotional availability and relational functions within reconstituted family contexts. Full article

Hydrothermal systems contain diverse alkanes derived from biological and geological processes, providing potential carbon and energy sources for microorganisms. However, cultivated thermophilic alkane-utilizing bacteria from hydrothermal environments remain poorly characterized. In this study, a strain L01 was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent and identified as an alkane-degrading bacterium. The strain L01 grew at 55 °C and pH 7.0 in medium supplemented with n-hexadecane under microoxic conditions. Cells were elongated rods approximately 10–20 μm long and ~0.2 μm wide. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (93.11% to the closest described relative), average amino acid identity (AAI, 66.27–66.58%), average nucleotide identity (ANI, 80.80–83.05%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH, 12.5–20.8%) demonstrated that strain L01 represents a previously unrecognized genus within the family Symbiobacteriaceae, for which the provisional name “Thermalkanevorax longiformis” is proposed. An isotope tracing experiment together with genomics and transcriptomics revealed coordinated physiological and metabolic responses associated with n-hexadecane utilization by strain L01. These findings provide a cultivated representative of the family Symbiobacteriaceae with physiological and metabolic responses to n-hexadecane, thereby providing a basis for further investigation of hydrocarbon metabolism. Full article

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and currently available antidepressants are limited by delayed therapeutic onset, inadequate efficacy in some patients, and adverse effects. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane receptors in the central nervous system, regulate neurotransmission, neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, stress responses, and reward processing, and are therefore important targets for antidepressant drug development. Natural products are a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds, many of which show antidepressant-like effects through the modulation of GPCR-mediated signaling pathways. In this narrative review, we summarize the roles of major GPCR families implicated in depression and provide an updated overview of natural products that modulate these receptors. We particularly emphasize receptor-specific mechanisms, downstream signaling networks, and the pharmacological actions of representative natural compounds. We also highlight emerging concepts in GPCR biology, including receptor heteromerization, signaling bias, and allosteric modulation, that may create new opportunities for antidepressant discovery. Finally, we discuss current challenges related to target validation, pharmacokinetics, and clinical translation. Collectively, these insights support further investigation of natural product-derived GPCR modulators as potential leads for next-generation antidepressant development. Full article

Immunosenescence is a major contributor to age-associated morbidity, yet microbiota-directed strategies capable of restoring immune homeostasis remain insufficiently validated. Medicinal plant polysaccharides (MPPs) are structurally diverse macromolecules that often resist host digestion and undergo microbial transformation in the colon, but their effects cannot be interpreted as those of a homogeneous intervention class. In this structured narrative review, we critically synthesize evidence across structural carbohydrate biology, microbial ecology, metabolite signaling, and immune aging and propose a structure–microbiota–metabolite–immunity framework for evaluating how MPPs may influence immunosenescence. Monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkages, molecular-weight distribution, branching, uronic acid content, chemical substitutions, and higher-order conformation can shape microbial carbohydrate-active enzyme activity, polysaccharide utilization, and ecological cross-feeding. The resulting changes in short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, tryptophan-derived indoles, and other metabolites may affect epithelial barrier integrity, regulatory T-cell/T helper 17-cell (Treg/Th17) balance, macrophage polarization, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and systemic inflammatory tone. However, evidence from in vitro systems and young disease models primarily supports mechanistic plausibility and should not be treated as direct evidence of immunosenescence modification. Translation will require structurally defined preparations, causal validation in aging-relevant models, comparison with established fermentable fibers, identification of responder phenotypes, and adequately powered trials in older adults. Full article

Kaempferol is a natural flavonol compound widely present in various single-herb remedies and compound formulations used for the treatment of ocular diseases. Despite its inherent pharmaceutical limitations, accumulating evidence indicates that kaempferol exerts broad protective effects against diverse ocular disorders through multiple biological pathways, highlighting its potential as a multi-target therapeutic candidate in ophthalmology. However, current evidence regarding kaempferol-based ophthalmic applications remains fragmented across different ocular diseases and mechanistic investigations, and a comprehensive evaluation of its therapeutic potential, translational challenges, and existing limitations is still lacking. This review systematically summarizes the research progress on kaempferol in the treatment of eye diseases, encompassing its source distribution, structural characteristics, ocular delivery strategies, disease spectrum coverage, molecular mechanisms, and safety profile. By critically evaluating currently available evidence, this review further identifies unresolved issues and translational barriers that hinder the clinical application of kaempferol in ophthalmology. Regarding delivery strategies, carriers such as gelatin nanoparticles, porous bovine serum albumin membranes, platelet-derived extracellular vesicles, and polyvinylpyrrolidone-based nanocomposites have preliminarily improved ocular surface retention and corneal permeability of kaempferol in models of corneal neovascularization and alkali burns. In terms of therapeutic indications, kaempferol has demonstrated protective effects in diverse experimental models, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic cataract, dry eye disease, fungal keratitis, corneal transplant rejection, acute glaucoma, and retinoblastoma. At the mechanistic level, kaempferol exerts comprehensive pharmacological actions—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metabolic regulation, anti-angiogenic, and immunomodulatory—by modulating multiple signaling pathways, including MAPK, NF-κB, STAT1/IRF7, Nrf2/HO-1, VEGF/PI3K/Src/Akt/ERK, aldose reductase, estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα), and the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Available safety assessments suggest that kaempferol exhibits a generally favorable safety profile across ocular, cellular, systemic, and genetic evaluations. Despite these advances, the clinical translation of kaempferol in ophthalmology remains limited by insufficient clinical and pharmacokinetic evidence, underdeveloped targeted delivery strategies, and a lack of integrated understanding of its molecular basis in ocular protection. By systematically integrating evidence from ocular disease models, molecular mechanisms, delivery strategies, and safety evaluations, this review bridges fragmented knowledge regarding kaempferol-based ophthalmic applications and provides an integrated framework for understanding its therapeutic potential and translational prospects. Overall, this review highlights kaempferol as a promising multi-target therapeutic candidate for ocular diseases and provides insights into its future translational development. Full article

Potassium (K⁺) is an essential mineral element for plant growth and development. Members of the HAK/KUP/KT (HAK) gene family serve pivotal roles in K⁺ uptake, translocation and homeostasis. Although numerous HAK genes have been extensively identified across diverse plant species, a comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of this family in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) remains lacking. In this study, 22 putative IbHAK genes were identified and classified into four distinct clades (I–IV). A systematic characterization was performed for each IbHAK gene, including protein physicochemical properties, chromosome distribution, gene structure, synteny, and promoter cis-elements. Notably, five IbHAK5 genes (IbHAK5A–IbHAK5E) clustered on the HAK gene tree with AtHAK5, OsHAK5, and ZmHAK5. This suggests that small-scale duplication events likely drove the expansion of HAK5 in sweet potato. Among them, IbHAK5A, a gene with broad expression across tissues and strong transcriptional induction under low-K⁺ (LK) stress, was cloned. The function was then characterized in a K transporter-deficient yeast mutant and an Arabidopsis hak5 mutant. Transcription factor IbPTL1 directly binds the IbHAK5A promoter, upregulates its expression, and integrates into the K⁺ signaling. In this work, we provide foundational insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms governing K⁺ acquisition in sweet potato. Full article

Testing exponentiality against increasing failure rate alternatives is central to reliability theory and lifetime data analysis. This paper develops the Adaptive Cumulative Residual Entropy Test under Proportional Hazards (Adaptive CRE-PH Test), a scale-invariant nonparametric procedure that unifies a Tsallis-entropy departure functional with a proportional-hazards transformation. For each tuning value, the fixed-$q$ statistic admits a normalized-spacing representation. Under exponentiality, the spacing proportions follow a Dirichlet distribution, yielding exact finite-sample means, covariances, and a joint null characterization of the adaptive maximum. Joint asymptotic normality and consistency under fixed alternatives are established for the complete dependent score vector. Structural analysis of the score family motivates a prespecified moderate grid governed by endpoint stability, directional diversity, and multiplicity economy, rather than retrospective power optimization. Monte Carlo experiments demonstrate accurate size control, explicitly quantify calibration stability, and show power close to the best fixed-$q$ component under linear failure rate, Makeham, and Weibull alternatives. A dedicated power experiment confirms substantial detection capability against an IFRA-but-not-IFR benchmark, showing that the broader population sign condition has practical as well as theoretical relevance. Additional DFR and bathtub experiments clarify directional specificity: rejection provides evidence against exponentiality in the IFR-sensitive direction but does not, without shape-specific inference, establish a globally increasing hazard. Three real-data applications illustrate the practical importance of distinguishing formal directional inference from exploratory Q–Q and total-time-on-test diagnostics. Full article

Neurodevelopmental disorder, speech impairment, and dysmorphic facies (NEDSID) is an autosomal dominant condition primarily driven by SETD1A haploinsufficiency. While most documented cases are sporadic, genomic mechanisms underlying intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity remain poorly understood. This study presents a comprehensive clinical, neurophysiological, and molecular characterization of a two-generation Mexican family segregating a novel heterozygous missense SETD1A variant. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a c.1604G>A (p.Gly535Glu) substitution localized within the critical Functional Location on SETD1A (FLOS) domain, which was validated via automated Sanger sequencing across all family members and 100 ethnically matched controls. The proband exhibited a moderate NEDSID phenotype, including global developmental delay, macrocephaly, borderline IQ (79) with pronounced information-processing deficits, and abnormal EEG sharp waves. Conversely, first-degree relatives carrying the identical variant presented with mild, non-intellectually disabling phenotypes characterized primarily by isolated psychiatric disorders (bipolar disorder, depression) and minimal dysmorphism. Structural 3D modeling and multi-algorithmic in silico profiling confirmed high evolutionary conservation and a deleterious impact (CADD: 22.2, SIFT: 0.00, GERP: 2.924), classifying the variant as a Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS)/Likely Pathogenic according to ACMG/AMP criteria (PM2, PP1, PP3, PP4). Furthermore, epigenetic dysregulation and chromatin remodeling defects increasingly link these histone-modifier variants to broader psychiatric landscapes. Emerging transcriptomic profiling confirms that dosage-sensitive COMPASS complex disruptions alter downstream neurodevelopmental gene cascades. Our findings present observational evidence of intrafamilial clinical variability in a single pedigree with a SETD1A missense alteration, supporting the hypothesis that non-catalytic domain substitutions may contribute to diverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Full article

Background: Autophagy is a process that diversely impacts the stages of both tumor initiation and progression. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy and its role in tumorigenesis is a key component of anticancer strategies in both prostate cancer and other malignancies. Because advanced prostate cancer frequently exploits enhanced autophagy as a defense mechanism against therapy-induced stress (e.g., from abiraterone), the pharmacological modulation of miRNA levels presents a tremendous opportunity to block the tumor’s escape route and overcome drug resistance. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to evaluate the molecular pathways determining cancer cell survival and death. The analysis focused on the dual nature of autophagy (functioning as a ‘double-edged sword’) within the tumor microenvironment, microRNA (miRNA) regulatory networks, and the efficacy of synergistic therapeutic strategies in overcoming treatment resistance. Results: The primary focus of this paper is the dual and complex role of autophagy, which serves, on the one hand, as a cellular protective shield against metabolic stress—thereby facilitating metastasis—and, on the other hand, as a potential pathway leading to autophagic cell death. The progression of this crucial process is regulated by intricate interactions (crosstalk) with apoptotic pathways, mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins, key kinases (such as mTOR, JNK, and DAPK), and transcription factors, such as p53. Furthermore, the autophagic machinery is precisely regulated by specific miRNA molecules (e.g., miR-21, miR-141, and miR-375). These not only act as crucial intracellular modulators of autophagy but also serve as promising circulating biomarkers, enabling the monitoring of this process’s activity throughout disease progression. Conclusions: Autophagy, and in particular its modulation via miRNA signaling networks, represents a major and highly promising translational target. By directly impairing this autophagic survival mechanism, ‘double-hit’ combination therapies—integrating autophagy inhibitors (such as hydroxychloroquine or VPS34 inhibitors) with standard antiandrogen or cytotoxic agents—demonstrate promising preclinical potential in overcoming treatment resistance and favorably modulating the immune microenvironment in advanced prostate cancer. Full article