Search Results (656)

Viral outbreaks have caused significant mortality and economic losses in aquaculture, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapies and a deeper understanding of antiviral and immune mechanisms in key species. This study investigates the constitutive and virus-induced antiviral responses in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following infection with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). Trout (30 g) were infected by immersion with VHSV (TCID₅₀ = 10⁵ mL⁻¹) for two hours. Samples were collected at 24, 72, and 120 h post-infection to assess hematology, innate immunity, viral load, and transcriptomic response. At 24 h post-infection, no immune response or increase in viral load was detected, suggesting the host had not yet recognized the virus and was still in the incubation phase. By 72 h, viral replication peaked, with high viral loads observed in mucosal tissues (skin and gills) and immune organs (kidney, spleen, liver), alongside strong up-regulation of antiviral genes, such as viperin. This gene maintained high expression through the final sampling point, indicating its key role in the antiviral response. At this stage, reduced immune competence was observed, marked by elevated nitric oxide and circulating thrombocytes. At 120 h, modest increases in peripheral monocyte, plasma lysozyme, and peroxidase activity were detected; however, these responses were insufficient to reduce viral load, suggesting the resolution phase had not yet begun. In summary, while a limited immune response was observed by the end of the trial, the consistent antiviral activity of viperin from peak infection to 120 h post-infection underscores its importance in the defence against VHSV in rainbow trout. Full article

The eastern Tianshan region in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is characterized by multiple complex tectonic activity of uncertain historical contribution to the construction of the CAOB. This study utilizes a multi-proxy geochemical approach to characterize I-type monzogranite pluton rocks and their associated hornblende-rich dioritic enclaves to decipher the tectonic and magmatic evolution of the Xigebi area, eastern Tianshan. Zircon geochronology indicates a Triassic and Permian crystallization age of ca. 224.2 ± 1.7 Ma and ca. 268.3 ± 3.0 Ma for the host monzogranites and the dioritic enclaves, respectively. Major, trace and rare earth element distribution, together with Hf isotope systematics displaying noticeable positive εHf(t) anomalies for both rock types, point to partial melting of meta-mafic rocks in an intraplate extensional setting. The diorite was formed by the melting of lower crustal meta-igneous rocks mixed with mantle melts, and the monzogranite, predominantly from deep crustal meta-basalts contaminated by shallow metasedimentary rocks, with some degree of mixing with deeply sourced mantle magma. While both the host monzogranites and their dioritic enclaves are the products of upwelling magma, the younger Triassic monzogranites captured and preserved fragments of the dioritic Permian lower continental crust during crystallization. These multiple stages of magmatic underplating and crustal reworking associated with vertical stratification of the juvenile paleo-continental crust suggest the monzogranites and diorites indicate a change from a post-collisional setting to a regional intraplate regime on the southern margin of the CAOB. Full article

Cold-water soft corals are a known habitat for juvenile basket stars (Gorgonocephalus sp.), but the role of this relationship in the earliest life stages of basket stars warrants further investigation. Here, basket stars and colonies of the soft coral Gersemia rubiformis were collected together from the Funk Island Deep Marine Refuge (NW Atlantic) and maintained in a laboratory setting for observation. During this time, two developing (<1 mm disc diameter) basket stars were discovered on coral colonies and could be seen retracting with the coral polyp into the colony. The basket stars were recorded unharmed once the polyps were expanded again and continued to retract within the colony over the period of observation. The results of this study show that developing basket stars can spend time inside the coral colony, which could be a form of protection. Full article

The southern Great Xing’an Range is located in the overlap zone of the Paleo-Asian Ocean metallogenic domain and the Circum-Pacific metallogenic domain. It hosts numerous Sn-polymetallic deposits, such as Weilasituo, Bianjiadayuan, Huanggang, and Dajing, and witnessed multiple episodes of magmatism during the Late Mesozoic. The study area is situated within the Huanggangliang-Ganzhuermiao metallogenic belt in the southern Great Xing’an Range. The region has witnessed extensive magmatism, with Mesozoic magmatic activities being particularly closely linked to regional mineralization. We present petrographic, zircon U-Pb chronological, lithogeochemical, and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses of the Yexilinhundi granites. The results indicate that the granite porphyry and granodiorite were emplaced during the Late Jurassic. Both rocks exhibit high SiO₂, K₂O + Na₂O, differentiation index (DI), and 10,000 Ga/Al ratios, coupled with low MgO contents. They show distinct fractionation between light and heavy rare earth elements (LREEs and HREEs), exhibit Eu anomalies, and have low whole-rock zircon saturation temperatures (T_zr), collectively demonstrating characteristics of highly fractionated I-type granites. The εHf(t) values of the granites range from 0.600 to 9.14, with young two-stage model ages (T_DM2 = 616.0~1158 Ma), indicating that the magmatic source originated from partial melting of Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic juvenile crust. This study proposes that the granites formed in a post-collisional/post-orogenic extensional setting associated with the subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean, providing a scientific basis for understanding the relationship between the formation of Sn-polymetallic deposits and granitic magmatic evolution in the study area. Full article

Biosynthesized ZnO nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform–infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. XRD confirmed a hexagonal wurtzite phase with an average crystallite size of 36.44 nm, while UV-vis spectroscopy showed a distinct absorption peak at 321 nm. The Zeta potential of the ZnO nanostructures was −24.28 mV, indicating high stability in suspension, which is essential for their dispersion and functionality in biological and environmental applications. The nematicidal activity of ZnO was evaluated in vitro at concentrations of 150, 300, 450, and 600 ppm, with the highest concentration achieving 75.71% mortality of second-stage juveniles (J2s) after 72 h. The calculated LC₅₀ values for the treatments were 270.33 ppm at 72 h. Additionally, molecular docking studies indicated significant interactions between the ZnO nanostructures and nematode proteins, HSP-90 and ODR1, supporting their potential nematicidal mechanism. This research highlights the effectiveness of neem leaf extract-mediated ZnO nanostructures as an eco-friendly, sustainable alternative for nematode control, presenting a promising solution for agricultural pest management. Full article

Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) shows potential for Mediterranean aquaculture due to its swift growth, consumer appeal, and commercial value. However, challenges in juvenile production, such as growth dispersion and unsynchronized development, impede further expansion. This study explores the impact of rearing temperature and live feed types on early white muscle development in greater amberjack larvae. Findings reveal substantial effects of temperature and diet on larval development, highlighting that the combination of 24 °C and a copepod + rotifer co-feeding scheme resulted in the highest axial growth rate, whereas rotifer-fed larvae at 20 °C exhibited a slower pace. Incorporating both histological and gene expression analyses, the study underscores temperature’s significant influence on white muscle development. Among larvae reared at 24 °C, the two live feed types led to phenotypic variations at metamorphosis, with rotifers supporting longer larvae featuring a smaller total cross-sectional area compared to copepods. Gene expression analysis indicates heightened mylpfb and myog expression at 24 °C during early larval stages, suggesting increased hyperplasia and myoblast differentiation. This study highlights the necessity of considering both temperature and feed type in larval rearing practices for optimal muscle development, and further research exploring combined diets during rearing could offer insights to enhance amberjack aquaculture sustainability. Full article

This research investigated the temporal dynamics of the anthropogenic impact of fishing pressure on the resilience of the fish species Sarotherodon melanotheron (Rüppel, 1858) in the African Lake Toho, located in southwest Benin. The sampling and analysis of monthly length frequency data were conducted from April 2002 to March 2003 and from April 2022 to March 2023 using the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool (FiSAT II software program (version 1.2.2.). The analysis of the S. melanotheron population in Lake Toho revealed a significantly diminishing resilience potential, reflected mainly in general reductions in both the average size and weight of individuals. There was a notable reduction in the size of Sarotherodon melanotheron individuals caught between 2002–2003 and 2022–2023, reflecting the increased pressure on juvenile size classes. Catches are now concentrated mainly on immature fish, revealing increasing exploitation before sexual maturity is reached. An analysis of maturity stages showed a decrease in the percentage of mature individuals in the catches (69.27% in 2002–2003 compared to 55.07% in 2022–2023) and a reduction in the number of mega-spawners (4.53% in 2002–2003 compared to 1.56% in 2022–2023). Growth parameters revealed a decrease in asymptotic length (from 32.2 cm to 23.8 cm) and longevity (from 9.37 years to 7.89 years), while the growth coefficient slightly increased. The mean size at first capture and optimal size significantly declined, indicating increased juvenile exploitation. The total and natural mortalities increased, whereas the fishing mortality remained stable. The exploitation rate remained high, despite a slight decrease from 0.69 to 0.65. Finally, the declines in the yield per recruit, maximum sustainable yield, and biomass confirm the increasing fishing pressure, leading to growth overfishing, recruitment overfishing, reproductive overfishing, and, last but not least, a decreasing resilience potential. These findings highlight the growing overexploitation of S. melanotheron in Lake Toho, compromising stock renewal, fish population resilience, sustainability, and production while jeopardizing local food safety. Full article

The establishment of a transient expression system in petals is significant for elucidating gene functions in flowering trees characterized by a prolonged juvenile phase. Genetic improvements in Camellia japonica have been hindered due to the absence of a functional validation platform. In this study, we explored an Agrobacterium-mediated and readily observable transient expression system in camellia petals to systematically optimize four critical factors affecting transformation efficiency. As a result, the bud stage, ‘Banliuxiang’ genotype, OD600 of 1.0, and 1-day co-cultivation achieved the highest intensity of transient expression, and overexpression of the Ruby1 reporter gene induced substantial anthocyanin synthesis, manifested as distinct red pigmentation. Furthermore, the optimized transient expression system revealed that the R2R3-MYB transcription factor CjMYB5, which interacted with CjGL3, promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis in camellia petals by transactivating key DFR structural genes. This transient expression platform not only advances functional genomics studies in ornamental woody species but also lays a foundation for molecular breeding programs in C. japonica. Full article

Substrate is an important component of a fish’s habitat environment. Fish preferences for substrate influence their growth and development, feeding, hiding, schooling, and reproduction. To explore the habitat preference of Brachymystax tsinlingensis, this study was conducted on the preferences of B. pre-smolts, post-smolts, and juveniles for three substrate colors, white, blue, and black, and four substrate types, sand (<0.5 cm in diameter), small gravel (1–2 cm in diameter), medium gravel (5–7 cm in diameter), and large gravel (12–16 cm in diameter), which were investigated in light (10–60 lx) and dark (no light) environments. The results showed that the individual populations of B. tsinlingensis in three periods of time had a clear preference for substrate color, preferring black substrate and staying away from blue substrate under both light and dark environmental conditions; B. tsinlingensis pre-smolts and post-smolts preferred sandy substrate, and juveniles preferred medium gravel substrate. The choice of substrate color and substrate type by B. tsinlingensis is a manifestation of the living environment characteristics of this species, which is conducive to their hiding, better avoidance of enemies, and improvement of their survival rate. Based on the research results and the early biological characteristics of B. tsinlingensis, it is recommended to use black or dark substrate during the cultivation of B. tsinlingensis fry. During the larval fish stage, a sandy substrate environment should be provided. During the juvenile fish stage, a medium-gravel environment should be provided. Full article

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) significantly affects canine health, but the precise cellular mechanisms of this condition remain elusive. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile renal cellular gene expression in a canine model of X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN). Dogs with this condition exhibit juvenile-onset CKD similar to that seen in human Alport syndrome. Post-mortem renal cortical tissues from an affected male dog and a heterozygous female dog were processed to obtain single-cell suspensions. In total, we recovered up to 13,190 cells and identified 11 cell types, including major kidney cells and immune cells. Differential gene expression analysis comparing the affected male and heterozygous female dogs identified cell-type specific pathways that differed in a subpopulation of proximal tubule cells. These pathways included the integrin signaling pathway and the pathway for inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling. Additionally, using machine learning-empowered digital cytometry, we deconvolved bulk mRNA-seq data from a previous canine study, revealing changes in cell type proportions across CKD stages. These results underline the utility of single-cell methodologies and digital cytometry in veterinary nephrology. Full article

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a major zoonotic disease primarily transmitted by sand flies. Unlike in adult dogs, the clinical course of CanL in puppies remains poorly characterized, regardless of the transmission pathway (i.e., vertical transmission or vector exposure). This study presents the first systematic literature review (SLR) focused on juvenile CanL, alongside an atypical clinical case report. A PRISMA-compliant search across four databases identified three eligible studies describing CanL in puppies (≤9 months, according to the current canine life stage guidelines). The case involves a 4.5-month-old puppy adopted from southern Italy with papulo-nodular skin lesions and generalized lymphadenomegaly as well as a mild normocytic normochromic anemia and increased C-reactive protein. L. infantum infection was confirmed by serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cytology. The SLR suggests that dermatological lesions and/or lymphadenomegaly, whether associated with laboratory abnormalities, represent the most common clinical manifestations of CanL in puppies. In the presented case, the coexistence of systemic dissemination signs and papulo-nodular skin lesions, typically associated with vector-borne transmission, suggests the possibility of a dual route of infection by L. infantum. Juvenile CanL should be considered in differential diagnoses and supported by thorough diagnostic evaluation and appropriate follow-up protocols. Full article

This study aimed to clarify the effects of jujube–cotton intercropping on cotton yield and photosynthetic characteristics, providing a theoretical basis for its application in the oasis irrigation areas of southern Xinjiang and offering practical recommendations to local farmers for increasing economic benefits. The effects were investigated from 2020 to 2023 using Zhongmian 619 cotton and juvenile jujube trees. Changes in leaf area index (LAI), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), yield, and economic benefits were evaluated over the years. The results showed that (1) a positive correlation was observed between LAI and the photosynthetic characteristics of cotton. Compared to monoculture cotton, intercropped cotton exhibited lower Pn, Gs, and Tr, and at the peak boll stage, monoculture cotton had significantly higher photosynthetic characteristics, indicating that intercropping affected cotton photosynthesis. (2) From 2020 to 2023, the land equivalent ratio (LER) of jujube–cotton intercropping remained above 1, with overall yield and economic benefit surpassing those of monoculture cotton and jujube, particularly in 2023 when the yield increased by 55.35%. (3) A significant positive correlation was found between cotton yield and LAI. In conclusion, jujube–cotton intercropping enhances photosynthesis, improving yield, economic benefits, and land use efficiency. Full article

Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus; Family: Lutjanidae) local habitat preferences have been assessed, but the biotic and abiotic factors influencing age and growth rates in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, have not been quantified. To address this knowledge gap, the goal of this study was to estimate mean age and growth rate of gray snapper, and use generalized linear mixed models to investigate if prey and/or other environmental factors (e.g., abiotic/biotic conditions, time, location, or habitat restoration status) impact size at both the lagoon- and habitat-specific scales. Age data were extracted via otolith microstructural analyses, and incorporated with size into a lagoon-scale linear growth model. Based on microstructural analyses, mean age of gray snapper at the lagoon scale was 175 ± 66 days (range = 56–350 days). The results indicate the most common life stage of gray snapper in Mosquito Lagoon is juveniles, with living shoreline habitats having a greater proportion of relatively young juveniles (111 ± 36 days) and oyster reef habitats having a greater proportion of relatively older juveniles (198 ± 58 days). The estimated growth rate was 0.43 mm/day. Body mass and body length were correlated positively with habitat quality and lagged salinity levels. Hence future studies should strive to characterize benthic habitat characteristics, and investigate biotic and abiotic factors that potentially influence gray snapper growth. Collectively, this study increases our understanding of environmental drivers affecting juvenile gray snapper development and shows that the restoration of benthic habitats can produce conditions conducive to gray snapper growth. The age-, size-, and habitat-specific growth rates of juveniles from this study can be incorporated into stock assessments, and thereby be used to refine and develop more effective ecosystem-based management strategies for gray snapper fisheries. Full article

This study focuses on a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in China, utilizing a large permanent plot established in the Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve. By integrating data from a full-stem census and total station surveying, we analyzed the phylogenetic structure of the plant community as a whole and across different life-history stages (saplings, juveniles, and adults) while quantitatively assessing microtopographic variables and an interspecific competition index. The results indicate that the overall community in the Yaoluoping plot exhibited a weakly overdispersed pattern, and key microtopographic factors—including aspect, terrain position index (TPI), terrain ruggedness index (TRI), roughness, and flow direction—significantly influenced the evolution of phylogenetic structure. Distinctions were also observed among saplings, juveniles, and adults in phylogenetic structuring across life-history stages. Specifically, saplings displayed a higher degree of phylogenetic clustering, significantly influenced by density, elevation, TPI, and flow direction—suggesting that environmental filtering predominates at this stage, possibly due to lower environmental tolerance, limited dispersal ability, and conspecific negative density dependence. In contrast, juveniles and adults showed a more dispersed phylogenetic structure, with density, interspecific competition, aspect, TRI, TPI, and roughness significantly correlated with phylogenetic patterns, indicating that competition and niche differentiation become increasingly important as trees mature and establish within the community. Interspecific competition was found to play a crucial role in community structuring: the competition index was generally negatively correlated with the net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) in juveniles and adults, implying that intense competition leads to the exclusion of some species and reduces overall diversity, with the strength and significance of competitive effects differing across stages. This study enhances our understanding of the complex interplay between microtopography and interspecific competition in shaping the phylogenetic structure and diversity of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, elucidates the coupled mechanisms among microtopography, phylogenetic structure, and competition, and provides a scientific basis for forest conservation and management. Full article

Current feeding protocols used in commercial hatcheries of Mediterranean fish species are, for a species-dependent period after hatching, based on live feeds which have often raised issues of biosecurity, stability, availability, price and nutrients content. Instead, dry feeds can offer stability in nutritional value, price and supply. The aim of the present study was to evaluate an alternative feeding protocol by co-feeding live and dry feed at first feeding red seabream larvae (on 3 days post-hatching—3 dph, DF3) and to compare it to a standard feeding protocol (i.e., dry feed introduced on 22 dph, DF22). Larvae productivity and functional development of the digestive system were evaluated under actual production conditions in a commercial hatchery. Additionally, post-larvae efficiency during pre-growing was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. The results obtained showed that the experimental protocol (DF3) promoted larval growth without affecting larval survival and the efficiency of the digestion processes. After pre-growing, DF3-produced juveniles showed a decreased incidence of spinal cord malformations, while the initially gained growth advantage was maintained. The present study shows the feasibility of an alternative feeding protocol for red seabream intensive larviculture and points out the critical role that larval rearing may have for later production stages. Full article