Search Results (422)

Real-time visual recognition systems integrated with culturally adaptive reasoning are urgently demanded in globalized culinary scenarios. An agent-oriented framework, Agent-based Gastronomy Recommender Enhanced Engine with YOLO (AGREE-YOLO), is proposed in this study, which integrates an optimized lightweight YOLOv13 detector and vision language model (VLM)-driven agents for cross-cultural seafood recipe recommendation. The improved YOLOv13 is equipped with group shuffle convolution (GSConv) modules and Wise-IoU (WIoU) loss, which is validated on a refined underwater seafood dataset targeting sea cucumbers, sea urchins and scallops. It achieves 91.2% precision and 87.3% recall, with 3.9% and 4.2% increments over the baseline model, and maintains 2.0 ms inference speed. Detection outputs are structured and stored in a MySQL database, and a novel ChatFlow pipeline is constructed in the Dify platform to support natural language database querying. VLM-powered agents retrieve structured data and generate culturally tailored recipes and dish images automatically. Operational validation verifies that the end-to-end pipeline realizes seamless conversion from seafood images to personalized cross-cultural recommendations. This work provides an integrated solution for intelligent, culturally adaptive gastronomy in food informatics. Full article

The selectin family constitutes a well-known class of immune-regulatory molecules, among which P-selectin has emerged as a therapeutic target for inflammatory thrombotic diseases due to its capacity to mediate the adhesion between multiple immune cell subsets and endothelial cells. Currently, small-molecule or glycomimetic inhibitors targeting P-selectin have stalled in Phase III clinical trials, with a common limitation being their weak binding affinity to P-selectin. In this study, in vitro competitive binding assays were employed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of structurally distinct fucosylated glycosaminoglycan (FG) oligosaccharides, derived from sea cucumbers, on the interaction between P-selectin and its ligands. A potent inhibitor, the nonasaccharide Ta-9-2 (featuring a novel disaccharide side chain), was identified. Biolayer interferometry (BLI) analysis further confirmed its high binding affinity to P-selectin, with a K_D of 83.92 nM. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis reveals that the appropriate glycan chain length, the novel disaccharide side chain (Gal_4S6S-α1,2-L-Fuc_3S-α1,3), and the favorable sulfation pattern (Fuc_2S4S) serve as the molecular basis for potent P-selectin inhibition. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation for the structural optimization of glycomimetic targeting P-selectin, while also offering a new opportunity for the development of high-efficacy drug candidates. Full article

Low-salinity stress poses a critical constraint on commercial aquaculture and the survival of the sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus). This study investigated the regulatory network involving lncRNA011760, miR-novel-91, and their target gene NIPA2 in response to salinity fluctuations. Using integrated in vivo and in vitro functional assays, we demonstrate that lncRNA011760 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-novel-91, thereby alleviating the post-transcriptional repression of NIPA2. Based on these molecular dynamics, we propose a novel inhibition-adaptation-survival three-stage model. Initially (0–3 h), acute NIPA2 upregulation enhances Mg²⁺ transport efficiency to mitigate osmotic shock. During the mid-stage (3–24 h), miR-novel-91-mediated NIPA2 suppression creates a transient biosynthetic window, facilitating a shift from passive tolerance to active metabolic adaptation. Ultimately (24–48 h), lncRNA-driven NIPA2 restoration sustains Mg²⁺ homeostasis, allowing the organism to enter a low-metabolism survival mode. These stage-specific shifts reflect the inherent physiological strategies of sea cucumbers as osmoconformers. Full article

The tissue regeneration of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) involves precise intercellular signal pathway transduction and gene expression regulation. This study investigated the function of the Notch signaling pathway in A. japonicus papilla regeneration and its modulation by LED light of varying intensities. We detected the expression patterns of Notch signaling pathway-related genes and their downstream cell proliferation-related genes during papilla regeneration, and further verified the pathway function via gene silencing, combined with histological analyses to explore LED-mediated effects. Gene expression assays revealed that AjNotch, AjSu(H), AjHes1, AjCyclinA, AjCyclinD and AjCDK8 were significantly upregulated at 28 days post papilla excision (p < 0.05). LED light treatment accelerated papilla regeneration in a light intensity-dependent manner, with the most pronounced promotion at 2000 lx (p < 0.05). Moreover, LED light treatment was associated with altered expression of Notch signaling pathway genes and their downstream proliferation-related genes in a light intensity-dependent manner. Gene silencing of AjNotch significantly downregulated its downstream target genes (p < 0.05), attenuated the regenerative promotion of LED light, and reduced cell proliferation rate (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the Notch signaling pathway is pivotal for A. japonicus papilla regeneration, and LED light modulates papilla regeneration with concurrent changes in the expression of Notch pathway-related genes. This study provides novel insights into the function of the Notch signaling pathway in echinoderm regenerative development. Full article

Background: Inflammatory signaling and oxidative stress machinery are interconnected and play roles in apoptosis, proliferation, redox state control, and the progression of many diseases, including cancer. The marine environment harbors a wealth of organisms that produce a wide variety of bioactive molecules with significant biological activities. Over the last decade, the advent of AI-driven approaches has enhanced the study and analysis of peptides, helping to reduce costly and time-consuming conventional laboratory testing, validation, and synthetic procedures. Methods: In this study, we predicted the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of peptides isolated from proteomic data obtained from circulating cells and humoral components of the sea cucumber defense system using a bioinformatic workflow based on different artificial intelligence tools. Results: We identified 40 top-ranked peptides with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity and a sub-class of eight peptides shared by FreD domains. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that they have active binding sites for different key molecules involved in inflammatory and oxidative processes. Conclusions: The results showed that the peptides highlighted by our analysis workflow can be identified as potential molecules used as therapeutic strategies for diseases by targeting both inflammatory and oxidative processes. Full article

Temperature and salinity are key environmental factors for sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) aquaculture. To better understand the molecular regulation mechanisms of A. japonicus under extreme environmental conditions, we collected metabolomic data from a control group (C: 16 °C, 30 salinity), a heat-stress group (HT: 30 °C, 30 salinity), a hypo-salinity group (LS: 16 °C, 20 salinity), and a heat plus hypo-salinity group (HL: 30 °C, 20 salinity). Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was used to measure the changes in endogenous metabolites in the body wall of A. japonicus and detect differential metabolites and associated metabolic pathways. The results of metabolomic profiling identified a total of 349 secondary metabolites, enriched mainly in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, cAMP signaling pathway, pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, as well as vitamin metabolism. Compared to the control group, levels of amino acids and lipids were enhanced during adaptation to high-temperature stress (HT and HL groups). Levels of pantothenic acid content increased in the LS group compared with its content in the control group, which suggests that stress promoted the TCA cycle in the body of A. japonicus, providing energy for movement. A. japonicus may adjust energy metabolism by altering pathways or adapt to environmental changes by regulating the activities of certain enzymes to maintain life activities and metabolic homeostasis. In response to these stresses, A. japonicus metabolism increased to bolster its antioxidant capacity and maintain cellular homeostasis and organismal stability. These results clarified the complex physiological processes involved in the response to stress and the maintenance of metabolism of the A. japonicus. This study provides novel insights into the metabolic regulation mechanisms that enable A. japonicus to cope with heat and hypo-salinity stresses. Full article

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide and has been increasingly reported in aquatic environments, including riverine, estuarine, and coastal systems. However, information on its intestinal effects in benthic marine invertebrates remains limited. In this study, we investigated dose-dependent intestinal responses of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus following acute waterborne glyphosate exposure using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Sea cucumbers were exposed for 24 h to four nominal glyphosate concentrations: 0, 9.23, 46.15, and 230.77 mg/L. Mortality occurred only in the highest-concentration group, allowing phenotypic stratification of this group into high-dose survivors (HL) and high-dose dead individuals (HD) for downstream multi-omics comparisons. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis indicated clear exposure- and phenotype-associated shifts in intestinal molecular profiles. Differential expression analysis and pathway enrichment showed that low-dose exposure was mainly associated with metabolic and digestion-related adjustments, whereas higher exposure levels were characterized by broader perturbation of immune regulation, stress-response signaling, proteostasis-related processes, and cell fate-associated pathways. Metabolomic profiling further revealed progressive remodeling of lipid, amino acid, energy, redox, and transport-related pathways, with the most extensive alterations observed in HD. Integrated transcriptome–metabolome analysis supported increasingly structured cross-omics covariation with rising exposure severity, highlighting coordinated intestinal system disruption under high-dose glyphosate stress. Overall, these findings demonstrate that acute waterborne glyphosate exposure induces dose-dependent intestinal molecular reprogramming in A. japonicus, with marked divergence between surviving and dead individuals at the highest exposure level. This study provides mechanistic evidence for early intestinal responses to glyphosate in a representative marine deposit-feeding invertebrate and offers a basis for future studies linking controlled exposure experiments with environmentally relevant marine risk scenarios. Full article

Deposit-feeding sea cucumbers ingest sediment-like particles, making substrate-associated exposure pathways ecologically relevant in coastal aquaculture. In this study, a sea mud feed matrix was used to evaluate short-term dietborne/substrate-linked glyphosate exposure in Apostichopus japonicus over 72 h, with the aim of characterizing early residue formation, short-term sublethal biomarker responses, and gut microbiota shifts under a benthic feeding scenario. Analytical verification confirmed a clear glyphosate gradient in the prepared feed matrices, with no glyphosate detected in the control matrix and measured concentrations of 8.66 ± 1.59 mg/kg, 1330 ± 390 mg/kg, and 6960 ± 1710 mg/kg in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively. No mortality or obvious external lesions were observed during the exposure period. Tissue analysis confirmed measurable internal glyphosate residues and compartment-specific distribution, indicating successful internal exposure under the matrix-linked route. Most digestive and immune/antioxidant biomarkers remained relatively stable within the 72 h window; however, amylase showed a marked response in the low-dose group, and superoxide dismutase showed dose-associated changes in the medium- and high-dose groups, indicating selective sensitivity among enzyme endpoints. Gut microbiota analysis revealed a dominance-structured community with limited alpha-diversity variation among groups, whereas community composition showed subtle treatment-related shifts that were more evident at finer taxonomic resolution. Predicted functional profiles remained broadly similar across treatments. Overall, the 72 h exposure design was effective for identifying early internal exposure and short-term biological responses under a sea mud-associated feeding route, while host physiological responses remained largely buffered over this time scale and the gut microbiota provided a more sensitive interface-level signal of exposure-associated change. These findings support the value of a route-specific, gut-centered framework for evaluating early herbicide exposure responses in benthic mariculture species and suggest that matrix-associated feeding conditions may modify the apparent magnitude of short-term responses. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive characterization of volatile and nonvolatile compounds in scallion-braised sea cucumber by integrating solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) and widely targeted metabolomics. A total of 43 volatile compounds and 1792 nonvolatile metabolites were identified, with amino acids and their derivatives being the most abundant. Multivariate statistical analysis identified 11 key aroma-active volatiles and 619 significantly differential metabolites. Correlation network analysis demonstrated that characteristic flavors were primarily formed through coordinated pathways involving protein degradation, lipid oxidation, and carbohydrate metabolism during high-temperature braising. Terpenoids from seasonings, lipid-derived aldehydes and furans, and Maillard reaction products jointly shaped the distinctive aroma profile. This work clarifies the molecular mechanisms of flavor formation in scallion-braised sea cucumber and provides theoretical support for improving flavor regulation, processing standardization, and product quality evaluation in commercial sea cucumber production. Full article

A protozoa leads a rapid onset of symptoms, with high mortality rates in the rearing of the planktotrophic larvae of the tropical holothurian Isostichopus fuscus for aquaculture. This study aimed to determine the effect of temperature on the infection parameters and the larvae size with/without parasites in its five development stages: T1–EA (250–300 μm), T2–MA-I (300–600 μm), T3–MA-II (600–900 μm), T4–A (1.1–1.3 mm), and T5–LA (≈500 μm). Eight 500 L conical tanks with filtered and UV-sterilized seawater with 0.2 larvae mL⁻¹ under two temperature treatments (low: 23.0 ± 2.5 °C, high: 27.0 ± 0.5 °C). Thirty larvae per replicate at intervals of 4–5 days were sampled until day 25. A total of 1200 larvae were examined, and a total of 21,715 parasites were counted. A total of 97% of parasites were found under low temperature conditions. The DSI and survival significantly varied in relation to the temperature and time. The highest prevalence and intensity, 62.5 ± 5.7% and 130.5 ± 13.0, respectively, were observed at T4 at low temperature. At 18 d, larvae without parasites were larger (1494.1 ± 52.2 μm) than larvae with parasites (1237.7 ± 24.4 μm, p < 0.05) at 25 d. These findings suggest that elevated temperature functions as a key regulator in mitigating parasitic infections in auricularia larvae of I. fuscus. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fucoidan is a sulfated long-chain polysaccharide found mainly in sea cucumbers and brown algae. Studies suggest that fucoidan may play a role in treating various diseases, including metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of fucoidan isolated from brown algae on diabetic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Methods: Two databases, PubMed and Embase, were searched to identify peer-reviewed articles written in English and published up to 30 June 2025. Studies reporting blood glucose and serum/plasma lipid levels of diabetic rodents treated with fucoidan or vehicle were included in the meta-analysis. Results: Forty-seven studies reported blood glucose levels. The pooled effect size for blood glucose levels was −2.26 (95% CI: −2.78 to −1.75), with substantial heterogeneity. Subsequent analyses showed that diabetic dyslipidemia was markedly improved in the fucoidan-treated group compared with the control. Conclusions: Fucoidan treatment could improve hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetic rodents. Full article

The increasing exploitation of sea cucumbers has driven widespread population declines, highlighting the need to improve knowledge and understanding of the early life history stages of exploited species such as Holothuria tubulosa, one of the most common holothurians along Mediterranean coasts. This study investigated larval settlement success and juvenile early survival of H. tubulosa larvae, considering two algal biofilms as settlement cues: the diatom Amphora sp. and the green alga Ulvella lens. Larvae were reared under controlled hatchery conditions, and, once reaching the doliolaria stage, larvae were individually exposed to biofilm-conditioned substrates vs. a control without biofilm. Settlement dynamics and larval development were monitored over 35 days and analysed using generalised linear mixed models, while the biochemical composition of the biofilms was assessed through protein, carbohydrate, and lipid quantifications. Larvae exposed to algal biofilms successfully settled and metamorphosed, whereas no settlement occurred in the control. U. lens induced the highest settlement success (54%) and supported subsequent juvenile development, while Amphora sp. resulted in lower settlement rates (21%) and higher post-settlement mortality. Although Amphora sp. showed higher protein and carbohydrate content, settlement and survival were enhanced on U. lens, suggesting that biofilm structure and biochemical cues play a primary role in regulating settlement processes. These findings improve the understanding of settlement mechanisms in H. tubulosa and provide valuable insights for hatchery production, conservation strategies, and the sustainable aquaculture of Mediterranean sea cucumbers. Full article

Skin aging is a complex biological process triggered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, causing structural and functional deterioration, and its mitigation is a priority in cosmetology and functional food science. Skin fibroblasts, which mediate skin repair, wound healing and inflammation, are closely associated with aging. Sea cucumber collagen peptides exhibit prominent anti-aging, immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, yet their mechanisms in ameliorating skin aging remain elusive, necessitating further exploration. This study verified the anti-skin aging efficacy of sea cucumber collagen peptides in D-galactose-induced aging mice, and explored whether the mechanism involves regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in skin fibroblasts. Aging mice were gavaged with sea cucumber collagen peptides; skin moisture, barrier function and hydroxyproline content were measured, and skin morphology was observed. Immunofluorescence and Western Blot were used to detect ER stress-related proteins. Results showed that sea cucumber collagen peptides significantly improved aging mouse skin barrier function, elevated water and collagen fiber contents, and ameliorated the status of fibroblasts and prickle cells. The underlying mechanism may involve inhibiting ER stress in skin fibroblasts and enhancing prickle cell function. These findings confirm the peptides’ high bioavailability and potential as anti-aging functional food ingredients, providing insights for skin aging prevention. Full article

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide with increasing concern regarding its non-target impacts in coastal ecosystems and mariculture species. Here, we profiled acute physiological stress signatures of waterborne glyphosate exposure in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus, integrating measured exposure concentrations, tissue residues, digestive and oxidative/innate immune biomarkers, and gut microbiota. After 24 h exposure, measured waterborne glyphosate confirmed the intended gradient (0.09 ± 0.02, 1.26 ± 0.09, and 4.49 ± 1.12 mg/L for low-, medium-, and high-dose treatments, respectively), and overt stress phenotypes with mortality occurred only at the high dose (36.67%), enabling separation of high-dose survivors (HS) and high-dose dead (HD) for downstream analyses. Tissue measurements showed low/background levels in controls, with compartment-specific distribution: the respiratory tree exhibited higher burdens at the medium dose, whereas coelomic fluid showed the highest burdens in HS at the 24 h endpoint. Functionally, most intestinal digestive enzymes were unchanged, but trypsin activity was consistently suppressed across exposed groups (p < 0.05). In coelomic fluid, oxidative stress responses were evident, with elevated MDA (L and M), reduced CAT (L, M, and HS), and reduced GSH-PX in HS (all p < 0.05), while SOD, GR, and lysozyme showed no significant changes. Gene sequencing of 16S rRNA (n = 3 per group) revealed significant shifts in community diversity/evenness (Shannon p = 0.0497; Simpson p = 0.0484) and beta diversity (PCo1 = 30.08%, PCo2 = 26.30%; PERMANOVA F = 1.816, p = 0.008), with LEfSe indicating discriminative taxa associated with exposure/outcomes. Collectively, these multi-level endpoints define an acute glyphosate stress signature in A. japonicus, linking internal dose distribution to oxidative disruption, impaired intestinal proteolysis, and microbiome restructuring. Full article

No. 0 diesel oil may pose a serious threat to sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) aquaculture by inducing skin ulceration. This study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy and mechanism of a previously developed inhibitor composition against diesel-induced injury. The inhibitor composition significantly alleviated skin ulceration in the experimental group (Eg), reducing the lesion area to 14.44 ± 1.79% after 96 h, compared to 33.19 ± 2.94% in the diesel-exposed control group (Cg) (p < 0.05). It effectively suppressed the overactivation of autolytic enzymes (cathepsin L and B) while enhancing the activities of acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Transcriptomic profiling revealed 3137 differentially expressed genes, with functional enrichment in pathways related to Notch signaling, ECM–receptor interaction, glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, and detoxification. The upregulation of genes such as HES-C, CYP1A1, GST, and UGT may be linked to the regulation of apoptosis inhibition, xenobiotic metabolism, and antioxidant defense. Furthermore, enhanced expression of NAD kinase and PNLIPRP may indicate a potential strengthening of energy metabolism and lipid utilization during stress adaptation. This study suggests that the inhibitor composition may exert a multi-level protective effect against diesel-induced injury by coordinating tissue repair, oxidative balance, and detoxification processes, offering a potential strategy to mitigate pollution impacts in sea cucumber aquaculture. Full article