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14 pages, 1554 KiB  
Article
Cytokinin Potentials on In Vitro Shoot Proliferation and Subsequent Rooting of Agave sisalana Perr. Syn
by Mayada K. Seliem, Neama Abdalla and Mohammed E. El-Mahrouk
Horticulturae 2025, 11(8), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11080929 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
Agave species are plants with great economic value and multiple possibilities of use as ornamentals, medicinal plants, and fibers, as well as being significant sources of bioethanol. However, their long life cycles hinder their conventional breeding. Therefore, biotechnology tools are the most effective [...] Read more.
Agave species are plants with great economic value and multiple possibilities of use as ornamentals, medicinal plants, and fibers, as well as being significant sources of bioethanol. However, their long life cycles hinder their conventional breeding. Therefore, biotechnology tools are the most effective means for clonal propagation and genetic improvement. In vitro micropropagation of A. sisalana via axillary shoot proliferation from bulbil explants was attained using Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with cytokinins (CKs), such as 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN), or thidiazuron (TDZ). The optimum significant shoot proliferation (14.67 shoots/explant) was achieved on 1.0 mg L−1 TDZ. The carry-over effect of CKs on subsequent rooting could be detected. Control and KIN treatments could enhance the rooting of shoots on shoot proliferation media. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized directly with 100% survival. To mitigate this carry-over effect, that causes hindering further root growth and development, and promote healthy growth of roots, subculturing shoots onto a CK-free medium is a recommended practice. The shoots induced on all BA treatments, and TDZ at 0.5 and 1.0 mg L−1 could be rooted after two subcultures on CK-free medium, then they were acclimatized with 100% survival. However, the higher concentrations of TDZ inhibited in vitro rooting even after two subcultures on CK-free medium, and the acclimatization percentage was reduced by increasing the TDZ concentration recorded from 10 to 0%. Full article
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20 pages, 319 KiB  
Article
Influence of Mass Media on Career Choices of Final-Year High School Students in Brașov County, Romania
by Claudiu Coman, Costel Marian Dalban, Ionela Pitea, Marcel Iordache and Anna Bucs
Journal. Media 2025, 6(3), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030126 - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
This study examines the influence of mass media on the career choices of high school students from Brașov County, Romania, with a focus on their underlying motivational factors. Employing a quantitative design, it draws on data from a standardized questionnaire completed by 1314 [...] Read more.
This study examines the influence of mass media on the career choices of high school students from Brașov County, Romania, with a focus on their underlying motivational factors. Employing a quantitative design, it draws on data from a standardized questionnaire completed by 1314 students from local high schools. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used in the analysis. While some students identify mass media as a key source of career guidance, documentaries and career fairs are more frequently cited as trusted sources. Students’ perceptions of mass media are ambivalent: 55.1% see it as manipulative, while 41.7% and 24.7% acknowledge its informative and educational roles. Personal motivation emerges as the most significant influence, with 64.8% guided by individual talents and abilities, compared to a lower influence from family or media role models. Correlational analysis highlights the importance of personal development, creativity, and collaboration in career motivation. This study suggests that mass media indirectly shapes students’ aspirations by reinforcing values like social recognition, mobility, and identity. Finally, it reveals a strong link between career interest and expectations for respectful, stable, and growth-oriented work environments, pointing to a pragmatic orientation toward professional sustainability. Full article
15 pages, 807 KiB  
Article
Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Adventitious Populus Tremula Root Development In Vitro
by Miglė Vaičiukynė, Jonas Žiauka, Valentinas Černiauskas and Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2427; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152427 - 5 Aug 2025
Abstract
Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a tree species with recognised ecological and economic importance for both natural and plantation forests. For the fast cloning of selected aspen genotypes, the method of plant propagation through in vitro culture (micropropagation) is often recommended. [...] Read more.
Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a tree species with recognised ecological and economic importance for both natural and plantation forests. For the fast cloning of selected aspen genotypes, the method of plant propagation through in vitro culture (micropropagation) is often recommended. The efficiency of this method is related to the use of shoot-inducing chemical growth regulators, among which cytokinins, a type of plant hormone, dominate. Although cytokinins can inhibit rooting, this effect is avoided by using cytokinin-free media. This study sought to identify concentrations and combinations of growth regulators that would stimulate one type of P. tremula organogenesis (either shoot or root formation) without inhibiting the other. The investigated growth regulators included cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PBZ), and a gibberellin mixture (GA4/7). Both BAP and TIBA increased shoot number per P. tremula explant and decreased the number of adventitious roots, but TIBA, in contrast to BAP, did not inhibit lateral root formation. However, for the maintenance of both adventitious shoot and root formation above the control level, the combination of PBZ and GA4/7 was shown to be especially promising. Full article
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22 pages, 4669 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic Insights into the Antimicrobial Effects of Metschnikowia Yeast on Phytopathogens
by Zofia Perek, Sumi Krupa, Joanna Nizioł, Dorota Kręgiel, Tomasz Ruman and Beata Gutarowska
Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3268; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153268 - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
One of the most important features of Metschnikowia pulcherrima is its strong antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens, which makes it a suitable candidate for use in biocontrol during crop cultivation. However, the mechanisms of its antimicrobial activity are not currently well understood. In this [...] Read more.
One of the most important features of Metschnikowia pulcherrima is its strong antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens, which makes it a suitable candidate for use in biocontrol during crop cultivation. However, the mechanisms of its antimicrobial activity are not currently well understood. In this study, we used metabolomic methods to investigate the possible mechanisms of antimicrobial activity by M. pulcherrima against phytopathogenic fungi. First, we tested the antimicrobial activity of five selected isolates against eleven phytopathogenic molds. Based on the results, selected yeast–pathogen co-cultures were cultivated on liquid and solid media. The supernatants from the liquid co-cultures were analyzed using the UHPLC-QToF-UHRMS and MS/MS methods. Co-culture growth on solid agar media was examined using the LARAPPI/CI MSI method. The yeast exhibited strong antagonism toward the mold phytopathogens. The LARAPPI/CI MSI method revealed the presence of various compounds with potential antifungal activity. The complex UHPLC-QToF-UHRMS analysis confirmed that the metabolic response of M. pulcherrima depends on specific yeast–pathogen interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)
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22 pages, 5188 KiB  
Article
LCDAN: Label Confusion Domain Adversarial Network for Information Detection in Public Health Events
by Qiaolin Ye, Guoxuan Sun, Yanwen Chen and Xukan Xu
Electronics 2025, 14(15), 3102; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14153102 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 30
Abstract
With the popularization of social media, information related to public health events has seen explosive growth online, making it essential to accurately identify informative tweets with decision-making and management value for public health emergency response and risk monitoring. However, existing methods often suffer [...] Read more.
With the popularization of social media, information related to public health events has seen explosive growth online, making it essential to accurately identify informative tweets with decision-making and management value for public health emergency response and risk monitoring. However, existing methods often suffer performance degradation during cross-event transfer due to differences in data distribution, and research specifically targeting public health events remains limited. To address this, we propose the Label Confusion Domain Adversarial Network (LCDAN), which innovatively integrates label confusion with domain adaptation to enhance the detection of informative tweets across different public health events. First, LCDAN employs an adversarial domain adaptation model to learn cross-domain feature representation. Second, it dynamically evaluates the importance of different source domain samples to the target domain through label confusion to optimize the migration effect. Experiments were conducted on datasets related to COVID-19, Ebola disease, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome public health events. The results demonstrate that LCDAN significantly outperforms existing methods across all tasks. This research provides an effective tool for information detection during public health emergencies, with substantial theoretical and practical implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence)
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20 pages, 23283 KiB  
Article
Titanium–Aluminum–Vanadium Surfaces Generated Using Sequential Nanosecond and Femtosecond Laser Etching Provide Osteogenic Nanotopography on Additively Manufactured Implants
by Jonathan T. Dillon, David J. Cohen, Scott McLean, Haibo Fan, Barbara D. Boyan and Zvi Schwartz
Biomimetics 2025, 10(8), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10080507 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 41
Abstract
Titanium–aluminum–vanadium (Ti6Al4V) is a material chosen for spine, orthopedic, and dental implants due to its combination of desirable mechanical and biological properties. Lasers have been used to modify metal surfaces, enabling the generation of a surface on Ti6Al4V with distinct micro- and nano-scale [...] Read more.
Titanium–aluminum–vanadium (Ti6Al4V) is a material chosen for spine, orthopedic, and dental implants due to its combination of desirable mechanical and biological properties. Lasers have been used to modify metal surfaces, enabling the generation of a surface on Ti6Al4V with distinct micro- and nano-scale structures. Studies indicate that topography with micro/nano features of osteoclast resorption pits causes bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and osteoprogenitor cells to favor differentiation into an osteoblastic phenotype. This study examined whether the biological response of human MSCs to Ti6Al4V surfaces is sensitive to laser treatment-controlled micro/nano-topography. First, 15 mm diameter Ti6Al4V discs (Spine Wave Inc., Shelton, CT, USA) were either machined (M) or additively manufactured (AM). Surface treatments included no laser treatment (NT), nanosecond laser (Ns), femtosecond laser (Fs), or nanosecond followed by femtosecond laser (Ns+Fs). Surface wettability, roughness, and surface chemistry were determined using sessile drop contact angle, laser confocal microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Human MSCs were cultured in growth media on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) or test surfaces. On day 7, the levels of osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF) in the conditioned media were measured. M NT, Fs, and Ns+Fs surfaces were hydrophilic; Ns was hydrophobic. AM NT and Fs surfaces were hydrophilic; AM Ns and Ns+Fs were hydrophobic. Roughness (Sa and Sz) increased after Ns and Ns+Fs treatment for both M and AM disks. All surfaces primarily consisted of oxygen, titanium, and carbon; Fs had increased levels of aluminum for both M and AM. SEM images showed that M NT discs had a smooth surface, whereas AM surfaces appeared rough at a higher magnification. Fs surfaces had a similar morphology to their respective NT disc at low magnification, but higher magnification revealed nano-scale bumps not seen on NT surfaces. AM Fs surfaces also had regular interval ridges that were not seen on non-femto laser-ablated surfaces. Surface roughness was increased on M and AM Ns and Ns+Fs disks compared to NT and Fs disks. OCN was enhanced, and DNA was reduced on Ns and Ns+Fs, with no difference between them. OPN, OPG, and VEGF levels for laser-treated M surfaces were unchanged compared to NT, apart from an increase in OPG on Fs. MSCs grown on AM Ns and Ns+Fs surfaces had increased levels of OCN per DNA. These results indicate that MSCs cultured on AM Ns and AM Ns+Fs surfaces, which exhibited unique roughness at the microscale and nanoscale, had enhanced differentiation to an osteoblastic phenotype. The laser treatments of the surface mediated this enhancement of MSC differentiation and warrant further clinical investigation. Full article
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22 pages, 3515 KiB  
Article
Biodegradation of Chloroquine by a Fungus from Amazonian Soil, Penicillium guaibinense CBMAI 2758
by Patrícia de Almeida Nóbrega, Samuel Q. Lopes, Lucas S. Sá, Ryan da Silva Ramos, Fabrício H. e Holanda, Inana F. de Araújo, André Luiz M. Porto, Willian G. Birolli and Irlon M. Ferreira
J. Fungi 2025, 11(8), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11080579 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 171
Abstract
Concern over the presence of pharmaceutical waste in the environment has prompted research into the management of emerging organic micropollutants (EOMs). In response, sustainable technologies have been applied as alternatives to reduce the effects of these contaminants. This study investigated the capacity of [...] Read more.
Concern over the presence of pharmaceutical waste in the environment has prompted research into the management of emerging organic micropollutants (EOMs). In response, sustainable technologies have been applied as alternatives to reduce the effects of these contaminants. This study investigated the capacity of filamentous fungi isolated from iron mine soil in the Amazon region to biodegrade the drug chloroquine diphosphate. An initial screening assessed the growth of four fungal strains on solid media containing chloroquine diphosphate: Trichoderma pseudoasperelloides CBMAI 2752, Penicillium rolfsii CBMAI 2753, Talaromyces verruculosus CBMAI 2754, and Penicillium sp. cf. guaibinense CBMAI 2758. Among them, Penicillium sp. cf. guaibinense CBMAI 2758 was selected for further testing in liquid media. A Box–Behnken factorial design was applied with three variables, pH (5, 7, and 9), incubation time (5, 10, and 15 days), and chloroquine diphosphate concentration (50, 75, and 100 mg·L−1), totaling 15 experiments. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The most effective conditions for chloroquine biodegradation were pH 7, 100 mg·L−1 concentration, and 10 days of incubation. Four metabolites were identified: one resulting from N-deethylation M1 (N4-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-N1-ethylpentane-1,4-diamine), two from carbon–carbon bond cleavage M2 (7-chloro-N-ethylquinolin-4-amine) and M3 (N1,N1-diethylpentane-1,4-diamine), and one from aromatic deamination M4 (N1-ethylbutane-1,4-diamine) by enzymatic reactions. The toxicity analysis showed that the products obtained from the biodegradation of chloroquine were less toxic than the commercial formulation of this compound. These findings highlight the biotechnological potential of Amazonian fungi for drug biodegradation and decontamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biotechnology and Application 3.0)
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23 pages, 2657 KiB  
Article
Enrichment Cultures of Extreme Acidophiles with Biotechnological Potential
by Khussain Valiyev, Aliya Yskak, Elena Latyuk, Alena Artykova, Rakhimbayev Berik, Vadim Chashkov and Aleksandr Bulaev
Mining 2025, 5(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5030049 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 90
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to obtain specialized enrichment cultures from an original extreme acidophilic consortium of extremely acidophilic microorganisms and to study their microbial community composition and biotechnological potential. At temperatures of 25, 35, 40 and 50 °C, distinct enrichments of [...] Read more.
The purpose of this work was to obtain specialized enrichment cultures from an original extreme acidophilic consortium of extremely acidophilic microorganisms and to study their microbial community composition and biotechnological potential. At temperatures of 25, 35, 40 and 50 °C, distinct enrichments of extremely acidophilic microorganisms used in the processes of bioleaching sulfide ores were obtained using nutrient media containing ferrous sulfate, elemental sulfur and a copper sulfide concentrate as nutrient inorganic substrates, with and without the addition of 0.02% yeast extract. The microbial community composition was studied using the sequencing of the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA genes. The different growth conditions led to changes in the microbial composition and relative abundance of mesophilic and moderately thermophilic, strict autotrophic and mixotrophic microorganisms in members of the genera Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus, Leptospirillum, Acidibacillus, Ferroplasma and Cuniculiplasma. The dynamics of the oxidation of ferrous iron, sulfur, and sulfide minerals (pyrite and chalcopyrite) by the enrichments was also studied in the temperature range of 25 to 50 °C. The study of enrichment cultures using the molecular biological method using the metabarcoding method of variable V3–24 V4 fragments of 16S rRNA genes showed that enrichment cultures obtained under different conditions differed in composition, which can be explained by differences in the physiological properties of the identified microorganisms. Regarding the dynamics of the oxidation of ferrous ions, sulfur, and sulfide minerals (pyrite and chalcopyrite), each enrichment culture was studied at a temperature range of 25 to 50 °C and indicated that all obtained enrichments were capable of oxidizing ferrous iron, sulfur and minerals at different rates. The obtained enrichment cultures may be used in further work to increase bioleaching by using the suitable inoculum for the temperature and process conditions. Full article
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15 pages, 1019 KiB  
Article
Biostimulatory Effects of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas corrugata on Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of In Vitro-Propagated Plants of Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC
by Janhvi Mishra Rawat, Mrinalini Agarwal, Shivani Negi, Jigisha Anand, Prabhakar Semwal, Balwant Rawat, Rajneesh Bhardwaj and Debasis Mitra
Bacteria 2025, 4(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4030038 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 106
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are well known for their capacity to enhance the growth and survival of in vitro-grown plants. However, their effect on Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC., a critically endangered medicinal plant in the Indian Himalayan Region, is still unknown. In [...] Read more.
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are well known for their capacity to enhance the growth and survival of in vitro-grown plants. However, their effect on Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC., a critically endangered medicinal plant in the Indian Himalayan Region, is still unknown. In this study, a simple, reproducible protocol for in vitro propagation of N. jatamansi was established using shoot tip explants, cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators, including N6-benzylaminopurine, thidiazuron (TDZ), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). MS media supplemented with 2.0 μM TDZ and 0.5 µM NAA created a significant shoot induction with an average of 6.2 shoots per explant. These aseptically excised individual shoots produced roots on MS medium supplemented with Indole Butyric Acid or NAA within 14 days of the transfer. The PGPR, viz., Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas corrugata, inoculation resulted in improved growth, higher chlorophyll content, and survival of in vitro-rooted plants (94.6%) after transfer to the soil. Moreover, the PGPRs depicted a two-fold higher total phenolics (45.87 mg GAE/g DW) in plants. These results clearly demonstrate the beneficial effects of P. corrugata and B. subtilis on the growth, survival, and phytochemical content of N. jatamansi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing of Soil Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture)
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25 pages, 3789 KiB  
Article
Rhizobium’s Reductase for Chromium Detoxification, Heavy Metal Resistance, and Artificial Neural Network-Based Predictive Modeling
by Mohammad Oves, Majed Ahmed Al-Shaeri, Huda A. Qari and Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080726 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 245
Abstract
This study analyzed the heavy metal tolerance and chromium reduction and the potential of plant growth to promote Rhizobium sp. OS-1. By genetic makeup, the Rhizobium strain is nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing in metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Among the Rhizobium group, bacterial strain OS-1 showed [...] Read more.
This study analyzed the heavy metal tolerance and chromium reduction and the potential of plant growth to promote Rhizobium sp. OS-1. By genetic makeup, the Rhizobium strain is nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing in metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Among the Rhizobium group, bacterial strain OS-1 showed a significant tolerance to heavy metals, particularly chromium (900 µg/mL), zinc (700 µg/mL), and copper. In the initial investigation, the bacteria strains were morphologically short-rod, Gram-negative, appeared as light pink colonies on media plates, and were biochemically positive for catalase reaction and the ability to ferment glucose, sucrose, and mannitol. Further, bacterial genomic DNA was isolated and amplified with the 16SrRNA gene and sequencing; the obtained 16S rRNA sequence achieved accession no. HE663761.1 from the NCBI GenBank, and it was confirmed that the strain belongs to the Rhizobium genus by phylogenetic analysis. The strain’s performance was best for high hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] reduction at 7–8 pH and a temperature of 30 °C, resulting in a total decrease in 96 h. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm Freundlich and Langmuir models fit best for this study, revealing a large biosorption capacity, with Cr(VI) having the highest affinity. Further bacterial chromium reduction was confirmed by an enzymatic test of nitro reductase and chromate reductase activity in bacterial extract. Further, from the metal biosorption study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was built to assess the metal reduction capability, considering the variables of pH, temperature, incubation duration, and initial metal concentration. The model attained an excellent expected accuracy (R2 > 0.90). With these features, this bacterial strain is excellent for bioremediation and use for industrial purposes and agricultural sustainability in metal-contaminated agricultural fields. Full article
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16 pages, 12609 KiB  
Article
Direct and Indirect Downstream Pathways That Regulate Repulsive Guidance Effects of FGF3 on Developing Thalamocortical Axons
by Kejuan Li, Jiyuan Li, Qingyi Chen, Yuting Dong, Hanqi Gao and Fang Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157361 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 202
Abstract
The thalamus is an important sensory relay station. It integrates all somatic sensory pathways (excluding olfaction) and transmits information through thalamic relay neurons before projecting to the cerebral cortex via thalamocortical axons (TCAs). Emerging evidence has shown that FGF3, a member of the [...] Read more.
The thalamus is an important sensory relay station. It integrates all somatic sensory pathways (excluding olfaction) and transmits information through thalamic relay neurons before projecting to the cerebral cortex via thalamocortical axons (TCAs). Emerging evidence has shown that FGF3, a member of the morphogen family, is an axon guidance molecule that repels TCAs away from the hypothalamus and into the internal capsule so that they subsequently reach different regions of the cortex. However, current studies on FGF-mediated axon guidance predominantly focus on phenomenological observations, with limited exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms. To address this gap, we investigated both direct and indirect downstream signaling pathways mediating FGF3-dependent chemorepulsion of TCAs at later developmental stages. Firstly, we used pharmacological inhibitors to identify the signaling cascade(s) responsible for FGF3-triggered direct chemorepulsion of TCAs, in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the PC-PLC pathway is required for FGF3 to directly stimulate the asymmetrical repellent growth of developing TCAs. Then, we found the FGF3-mediated repulsion can be indirectly induced by Slit1 because the addition of FGF3 in the culture media induced an increase in Slit1 expression in the diencephalon. Furthermore, by using downstream inhibitors, we found that the indirect repulsive effect of FGF3 is mediated through the PI3K downstream pathway of FGFR1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry)
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14 pages, 1742 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Biological Components of Leaves and Flowers in Moringa peregrina and Their Effect on Proliferation of Staurogyne repens in Tissue Culture Conditions
by Hamideh Khajeh, Bahman Fazeli-Nasab, Ali Salehi Sardoei, Zeinab Fotoohiyan, Mehrnaz Hatami, Alireza Mirzaei, Mansour Ghorbanpour and Filippo Maggi
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2340; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152340 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori is a tropical tree in southern Iran known as the most important natural coagulant in the world. Today, plant tissue culture is a new method that has a very high potential to produce valuable medicinal compounds on a commercial [...] Read more.
Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori is a tropical tree in southern Iran known as the most important natural coagulant in the world. Today, plant tissue culture is a new method that has a very high potential to produce valuable medicinal compounds on a commercial level. Advances in in vitro cultivation methods have increased the usefulness of plants as renewable resources. In this study, in addition to the phytochemical analysis of the extract of M. peregrina using HPLC, the interaction effect of different concentrations of aqueous extract of M. peregrina (0, 1, 1.5, and 3 mg/L) in two types of MS and ½ MS basal culture media over three weeks on the in vitro growth of Staurogyne repens (Nees) Kuntze was studied. The amounts of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and myricetin in the aqueous extract of M. peregrina were 64.9, 374.8, 42, and 4.6 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that using M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract had a positive effect on the length of the branches, the percentage of green leaves, rooting, and the fresh and dry weight of S. repens samples. The highest increase in growth indices was observed in the MS culture medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract after three weeks of cultivation. Of course, this effect was significantly greater in the MS medium and at higher concentrations compared to the ½ MS medium. Three weeks after cultivation at a concentration of 3 mg/L of the extract, the length of the S. repens branches was 5.3 and 1.8 cm in the two basic MS and ½ MS culture media, and the percentage of green leaves was 14 and 4 percent, respectively. Also, rooting was measured at 9.6 and 3.6 percent, fresh weight at 6 and 1.4 g, and dry weight at 1.1 and 0.03 g, respectively. Therefore, adding M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract as a stimulant significantly increased the in vitro growth of S. repens. Full article
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20 pages, 302 KiB  
Article
Understanding Influencer Followership on Social Media: A Case Study of Students at a South African University
by Nkosinathi Mlambo, Mpendulo Ncayiyane, Tarirai Chani and Murimo Bethel Mutanga
Journal. Media 2025, 6(3), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030120 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 375
Abstract
The influence of social media personalities has grown significantly, especially among youth audiences who spend substantial time on platforms like TikTok. The emergence and popularity of different types of social media influencers accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries, including South Africa. [...] Read more.
The influence of social media personalities has grown significantly, especially among youth audiences who spend substantial time on platforms like TikTok. The emergence and popularity of different types of social media influencers accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries, including South Africa. In turn, this period also saw a surge in youth audiences following these influencers. This rapid growth of influencer followings among young people is largely driven by specific types of content that resonate with them, thus encouraging continued engagement. However, the benefits that these young followers gain from engaging with various influencers and the factors driving their preferences for specific influencers remain underexplored, particularly within the context of South African students within higher education. Therefore, this study explores the types of social media influencers most followed by university students at a South African University and investigates the key factors that drive their preferences. A structured online questionnaire was distributed, gathering both multiple-choice and open-ended responses from students. The data were analyzed using categorical frequency counts and thematic analysis. The data highlight how students actively turn to influencers as emotional anchors, role models, and sources of practical guidance. Their engagement reflects a deep need for connection, inspiration, and identity formation in a challenging academic and social environment. These patterns show that influencer content is not just entertainment but plays a critical developmental role. Understanding these motivations helps educators, policymakers, and brands to align better with youth values. The significance of these results lies in how influencer content is now coming in to fill the emotional, cultural, and educational gaps left by traditional systems among the young South African university students in this modern era. Full article
32 pages, 2851 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Tellurite Toxicity to Escherichia coli Under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions
by Roberto Luraschi, Claudia Muñoz-Villagrán, Fabián A. Cornejo, Benoit Pugin, Fernanda Contreras Tobar, Juan Marcelo Sandoval, Jaime Andrés Rivas-Pardo, Carlos Vera and Felipe Arenas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157287 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Tellurite (TeO32−) is a highly soluble and toxic oxyanion that inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli at concentrations as low as ~1 µg/mL. This toxicity has been primarily attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during its intracellular [...] Read more.
Tellurite (TeO32−) is a highly soluble and toxic oxyanion that inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli at concentrations as low as ~1 µg/mL. This toxicity has been primarily attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during its intracellular reduction by thiol-containing molecules and NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes. However, under anaerobic conditions, E. coli exhibits significantly increased tellurite tolerance—up to 100-fold in minimal media—suggesting the involvement of additional, ROS-independent mechanisms. In this study, we combined chemical-genomic screening, untargeted metabolomics, and targeted biochemical assays to investigate the effects of tellurite under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our findings reveal that tellurite perturbs amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, leading to intracellular imbalances that impair protein synthesis. Additionally, tellurite induces notable changes in membrane lipid composition, particularly in phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives, which may influence biophysical properties of the membrane, such as fluidity or curvature. This membrane remodeling could contribute to the increased resistance observed under anaerobic conditions, although direct evidence of altered membrane fluidity remains to be established. Overall, these results demonstrate that tellurite toxicity extends beyond oxidative stress, impacting central metabolic pathways and membrane-associated functions regardless of oxygen availability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)
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31 pages, 23068 KiB  
Article
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans as Potential Markers for In Vitro Human Neural Lineage Specification
by Chieh Yu, Duy L. B. Nguyen, Martina Gyimesi, Ian W. Peall, Son H. Pham, Lyn R. Griffiths, Rachel K. Okolicsanyi and Larisa M. Haupt
Cells 2025, 14(15), 1158; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151158 - 26 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) within the neuronal niche are expressed during brain development, contributing to multiple aspects of neurogenesis, yet their roles in glial lineage commitment remain elusive. This study utilised three human cell models expanded under basal culture conditions followed by media-induced [...] Read more.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) within the neuronal niche are expressed during brain development, contributing to multiple aspects of neurogenesis, yet their roles in glial lineage commitment remain elusive. This study utilised three human cell models expanded under basal culture conditions followed by media-induced lineage induction to identify a reproducible and robust model of gliogenesis. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells (neuronal control), ReNcell CX human neural progenitor cells (astrocyte inductive) and ReNcell VM human neural progenitor (mixed neural induction) models were examined. The cultures were characterised during basal and inductive states via Q-PCR, Western Blotting, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and calcium signalling activity analyses. While the ReNcell lines did not produce fully mature or homogeneous astrocyte cultures, the ReNcell CX cultures most closely resembled an astrocytic phenotype with ReNcell VM cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) biased toward an oligodendrocyte lineage. The glycated variant of surface-bound glypican-2 (GPC2) was found to be associated with lineage commitment, with GPC6 and 6-O HS sulfation upregulated in astrocyte lineage cultures. Syndecan-3 (SDC3) emerged as a lineage-sensitive proteoglycan, with its cytoplasmic domain enriched in progenitor-like states and lost upon differentiation, supporting a role in maintaining neural plasticity. Conversely, the persistence of transmembrane-bound SDC3 in astrocyte cultures suggest continued involvement in extracellular signalling and proteoglycan secretion, demonstrated by increased membrane-bound HS aggregates. This data supports HSPGs and HS GAGs as human neural lineage differentiation and specification markers that may enable better isolation of human neural lineage-specific cell populations and improve our understanding of human neurogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in 'Cells of the Nervous System' Section)
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