Search Results (1,851)

Background: The Taiwanese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus ssp. Taiwan, Dabry de Thiersant, 1872.) is an economically important aquaculture species in East Asia, and its body color directly affects its ornamental and market value. Our research group recently discovered a golden-red mutant, named “Gan Hong No. 1” (MR), within a wild-type (WT) population. During embryogenesis, MR individuals exhibit almost no melanophore deposition, and after hatching, xanthophores and erythrophores appear sequentially, suggesting that the body color variation likely originates from alterations in the gene regulatory network during early development. Objective: To systematically compare the transcriptomes of WT and MR-Taiwanese loach during early development, to identify the key regulatory pathways underlying red body color formation from a temporal perspective, to test whether the classical melanin synthesis pathway is impaired, and to provide a theoretical basis for selective breeding of body color traits. Methods: High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was performed on eight early developmental stages (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 23, 28 and 43 h post-fertilization) of both loach types. Differential expression analysis, time-series trend analysis, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were used to systematically characterize gene expression dynamics. Transcriptomic data validation was performed using real-time PCR. Results: In MR, the core transcription factor mitfa was significantly downregulated, whereas the expression of melanin synthesis genes such as kita and dct showed no significant difference, indicating that the impairment of melanogenesis is caused by mitfa downregulation. Trend analysis and pathway enrichment revealed that in MR embryos, pathways related to oxidative stress, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, C-type lectin receptor signaling, p53 signaling, and apoptosis were significantly activated, while the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway was markedly upregulated. In WT, these pathways showed the opposite trend. qRT-PCR results were consistent with the transcriptome data. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that downregulation of mitfa serves as the initial trigger for red body color variation in the Taiwanese loach. This mutation impedes melanin synthesis and concurrently activates a coordinated regulatory network involving oxidative stress, immune inflammation, and thyroid hormone signaling. Accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids alleviates oxidative damage and supports carotenoid deposition, while immune signals eliminate aberrant melanocytes and promote compensatory generation of red and yellow chromatophores. The upregulated thyroid hormone further fine-tunes pigment cell differentiation. For the first time in a cobitid species, this study elucidates the mitfa-mediated, multi-pathway synergistic molecular mechanism driving the transition from melanin-based to carotenoid/pteridine-based red coloration in fish, thereby providing a theoretical reference for molecular breeding of body color in aquaculture. Full article

Background: Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) amplification represents a distinct mechanism of genomic instability in cancer, increasingly recognized for its role in aggressive disease progression. This review examines how ecDNA drives tumour evolution and assesses its potential as both a prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Methods: The authors integrate findings from multiple detection platforms—including FISH, whole-genome sequencing, and specialized reconstruction algorithms—and present data across diverse cancer types; no preregistration is noted, and no animal studies are included. Results: ecDNA consists of circular, acentric DNA elements carrying high-copy oncogene amplifications (such as EGFR, MYC, MDM2, and CDK4). Unlike chromosomal DNA, ecDNA segregates unevenly during cell division, generating intratumoral heterogeneity, accelerating adaptation to selective pressures, and promoting resistance to therapy. Pan-cancer surveys summarized here reveal ecDNA in a significant subset of tumours, with particularly high frequencies in liposarcoma, glioblastoma, and HER2-positive breast cancer, and consistent associations with worse clinical outcomes. Conclusions: The authors conclude that ecDNA amplification serves as a credible adverse prognostic indicator and holds promise for refining risk stratification and guiding treatment strategies. However, they stress that clinical adoption remains constrained by the absence of standardized, scalable, and reproducible detection. Full article

Neolissochilus heterostomus, a cyprinid fish endemic to Yunnan Province, China, is highly valued for both ornamental and edible purposes, yet its wild populations are currently declining and classified as endangered. In this study, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of N. heterostomus, utilizing the PacBio HiFi and Hi-C strategies. The assembled genome spans 1793.99 Mb and is anchored to 50 chromosomes, comprising a total of 50,203 genes. Genomic features and chromosomal karyotype data recorded in the present study are consistent with an allotetraploid origin for N. heterostomus. Comparative genomics shows that N. heterostomus shares a close phylogenetic relationship with another allotetraploid fish, the common carp Cyprinus carpio. In total, 4687 expanded and 1365 contracted gene families were identified in N. heterostomus. Further enrichment analyses indicated an overrepresentation of metabolism-related pathways among the expanded and positively selected gene families, whereas the contracted gene families were enriched in reproduction- and embryonic development-related pathways. Reproductive observations further indicate that N. heterostomus produces fewer eggs than other cyprinid species characterized by relatively long embryonic development periods (106.1 h; accumulated temperature: 2260.6 °C·h), including common carp, goldfish (Carassius auratus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), and blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). These findings suggest a potential association between metabolism-related genomic features and reproductive traits, although functional validation remains necessary. Overall, this study may offer insights into the polyploidization, metabolic, and reproductive traits of N. heterostomus, thereby providing genomic and biological resources that may support future studies relevant to the conservation and management of this endangered species. Full article

The critical checklist of the marine fishes of Malta and surrounding waters published by the present authors in 2023 provided the first evidence-based assessment of the marine ichthyofauna of the Maltese Islands. Since then, new faunistic, fisheries-related, and molecular data have become available, justifying an update. The present work critically reviews the scientific and selected popular literature published up to April 2026, applying the same study area and authentication criteria adopted in the 2023 checklist. The update affects 22 species: six are newly reported from Maltese waters, of which two still require confirmation; nine species previously treated as unconfirmed and three species originally excluded are here confirmed; two species formerly known only from historical records are also confirmed; and two species are excluded on the basis of revised taxonomic or biogeographical knowledge. Consequently, the number of confirmed species increases from 412 to 426, the number of unconfirmed species decreases from 53 to 45, and the number of excluded species decreases from 78 to 77. Within the confirmed fauna, native species increase from 370 to 379, non-established alien species from 17 to 19, and non-established Atlantic immigrants from 3 to 6, whereas the numbers of established aliens, established Atlantic immigrants, and cryptogenic species remain unchanged. The changes documented here reflect improved sampling, especially of deep-water species, the resolution of taxonomic uncertainty through molecular analyses, and the continued arrival of newcomer species. This updated checklist provides a more accurate and current baseline for future faunistic, biogeographical, ecological, conservation, and fisheries-related studies on the marine fishes of Maltese waters. Full article

Between November 2024 and February 2025, mass mortality events affecting grey mullets (Liza ramada and Mugil cephalus) were recorded in the Albufera des Grau, Menorca, resulting in approximately 5000 dead individuals. Gross examination revealed high levels of parasitic infestation and lesions, located on the skin and gills, typical of copepod infection. In addition, histological and molecular analyses were performed on selected potential pathogens to assess their possible contribution to fish mortality. This study focused on the molecular characterization of the ectoparasitic copepod Caligus pageti, providing the first genetic reference for the species. This enabled preliminary taxonomic and biological assessment despite the absence of previously available sequence data. Environmental measurements across the lagoon indicated conditions capable of sustaining the development, survival and proliferation of the copepod population. These findings highlight the importance of integrating morphological and molecular analyses to enhance understanding of the biology of C. pageti, providing a key reference for future studies on parasitic copepods in lagoon ecosystems. Full article

Background: Childhood obesity is a complex public health issue in which parental perceptions and family dietary behaviors are pivotal. This study assessed the feasibility of the Smart Family lifestyle counseling intervention in Greek primary care. It explored changes in children’s dietary behaviors relative to parental weight perception and Mediterranean diet adherence. Methods: A single-arm pretest–posttest pilot study was conducted in Patras, Greece, from Health4EUKids Joint Action. The intervention consisted of four monthly face-to-face counseling sessions using the Smart Family methodology. In total, 49 parent–child dyads (aged 2–12 years) completed the program. Data collection included child anthropometric measurements, validated food frequency questionnaires, parental perception of child weight status, and parental Mediterranean diet adherence. Results: Parents who underestimated their child’s weight status had significantly higher Mediterranean diet scores than those who overestimated (p = 0.032); those with low adherence tended to overestimate and those with moderate adherence to underestimate. The largest reduction was observed for sweets and desserts (median −2.35 servings/week), with significant reductions in sugar-sweetened beverages, grains and cereals, whole wheat products, and dairy. Fish and vegetable intake increased significantly, but fruit intake did not change. Changes in fast food and red meat differed significantly across Mediterranean diet score tertiles, with larger decreases in the lower tertiles. Conclusions: Smart Family counseling was feasible to deliver through trained healthcare professionals in Greek primary care over four months, with reductions in selected discretionary foods observed alongside the intervention. Parental weight perception and Mediterranean diet adherence emerged as potential barriers to change although the findings are exploratory and require confirmation in a future controlled trial. Full article

This study developed a novel framework integrating UAV-derived orthophotography, deep learning-based substrate classification, two-dimensional hydraulic modeling, Froude number (Fr) analysis, and multispecies habitat suitability assessment to evaluate the effects of channel modification and precipitation on fish habitats in Gaoliao Creek, eastern Taiwan. Habitat changes under baseflow and rainfall-induced high-flow conditions were quantified using Fr-based hydraulic habitat availability and Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)- and Combined Habitat Suitability Index (CHSI)-based habitat suitability. Channel modification transformed the channel from a deep and slow-flowing system into a shallower and faster-flowing environment. Under baseflow conditions, the proportion of available habitat meeting the adopted hydraulic criteria decreased from 81.6% to 73.9%, whereas the CHSI-derived proportion of weighted usable area (PUA) increased from 0.300 to 0.323 due to favorable substrate composition. During rainfall events, habitat availability and suitability declined markedly during peak flows and recovered as discharge receded. Compared with the pre-engineering channel, the modified channel exhibited greater sensitivity to short-term hydrological fluctuations but effectively prevented overbank flooding during the selected extreme rainfall event. These findings highlight the trade-off between flood-control benefits and ecological resilience and emphasize the importance of maintaining habitat heterogeneity in river management. Because the analyses were based on a single typhoon-related rainfall event and lacked direct biological validation, the results should be interpreted as event-specific predictions requiring further verification. Full article

The Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) is a commercially important crustacean species distributed around the coastal waters of China, which is harvested with both active and passive fishing gears. Among these, traps are one of the primary passive gears used in the Bohai Sea, which is one of the most important fishing grounds for Japanese mantis shrimp in northern China. However, the use of traps with a small mesh size challenges the sustainability of this fishery. Therefore, this study quantified the size selectivity and harvesting pattern for traps with different mesh sizes for harvesting Japanese mantis shrimp in the Bohai Sea. Results showed that the 50% retention length increased from 6.39 cm to 12.44 cm as mesh sizes increased from 20 (T20) to 60 mm (T60). T20 retained 86.8% and 100% of individuals, respectively, below (np-) and above (np+) the minimum landing size. Increasing mesh sizes decreased both np- and np+. Compared with T20, T30 reduced undersized catch by 67.8% while decreasing legal-sized catch by 8.2%. Increasing mesh sizes beyond T40 provided no significant reduction in np- but caused further reduction in np+. Therefore, the T30 mesh trap was recommended to replace the currently applied T20 in the Bohai Sea. Full article

Timely fish disease monitoring is an important requirement for sustainable aquaculture because disease outbreaks can reduce survival, increase treatment inputs, and destabilise production. In aquaponic systems, fish health is also linked to nutrient cycling and the stability of integrated fish–vegetable production, making automated fish-health perception a potentially useful component of resource-efficient farming. Existing classification and detection methods can identify disease categories or approximate lesion locations, but they provide limited information about lesion area, boundary shape, and severity-related spatial extent. This study presents a deep learning framework for pixel-level fish lesion segmentation to support sustainable aquaculture health monitoring, with aquaponic systems considered as a potential application context. The framework combines lesion-preserving frequency augmentation (LPFA), confidence-guided large-kernel encoding (CGLE), and confidence-filtered decoder refinement (CFDR). LPFA expands lesion appearance variation during training while retaining the main lesion layout. CGLE uses coarse prediction confidence to allocate broader contextual modelling to uncertain encoder regions, and CFDR applies selective decoder correction to low-confidence regions. A public freshwater fish disease dataset is reformulated into a dense prediction task with 1750 raw images from seven image-level categories, including six disease categories and one normal healthy category. The images are divided into training, validation, and test subsets at an 8:1:1 ratio, and controlled augmentation strategies are applied online rather than being used to create a larger static dataset. Across five random-seed runs, the proposed method achieves $82.6\pm 0.3$% mIoU, $90.9\pm 0.2$% mDice, and $73.5\pm 0.4$% Boundary IoU. Relative to TransUNet, the mean mIoU rises from $78.4\pm 0.4$% to $82.6\pm 0.3$%, and Boundary IoU rises from $68.8\pm 0.5$% to $73.5\pm 0.4$%, with paired bootstrap testing supporting the stability of the improvement. These results indicate its potential as a lesion-quantification decision-support component for smart and sustainable fish-production systems. Full article

The potential effects of microplastics (MPs) on humans and ecosystems are of great concern, and it has been reported that the ingestion of contaminated food is the main route of exposure. In the present study, Perca fluviatilis was selected as a vertebrate model to evaluate the possible cellular effects induced by five different plastic polymers and car tire debris (CT) after 4- and 7-month exposure periods. The Cytome assay was chosen to check chromatin alteration in perch’s peripheral blood. The results indicated an increase in micronuclei and cytotoxic effect in specimens co-exposed to MPs + CT for 7 months. Increases in dicentric chromosomes were observed in specimens exposed both to MPs alone and to the mixture of MPs + CT, indicating for the first time a genotoxic effect induced by CT debris in fish in terms of structural aberrations. Increases in micronucleated erythrocyte frequency assessed after 7 months only after the addition of CT debris to the mixture of MPs might suggest an aneugenic action of CT in fish. In the same groups, the higher values of frequency in 8-shaped erythrocytes also indicate possible cell cycle toxicity exerted by CT exposure. An association between total erythrocyte nuclear morphology abnormalities (ENA) and glutathione reductase activity was also found, indicating a potential involvement of oxidative processes in modulating the genotoxicity observed. The present experimental model is a useful tool to study cellular mechanisms related to both MP- and CT-induced chromatin structure alterations indicating possible interference with human health as well. Full article

Scientific knowledge-based fishery management is essential to ensure the sustainability of marine resources, particularly in regions where fisheries are data-limited. This study assessed the stock status of six shallow-water demersal fish species (Bagre marinus, Cathorops mapale, Diapterus rhombeus, Eucinostomus argenteus, Haemulopsis corvinaeformis, and Lutjanus synagris) in the Colombian Caribbean Sea using three complementary length-based models: length-based indicators (LBIs), length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR), and the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass estimator (LBB). The integrated results demonstrated that five species (C. mapale, D. rhombeus, E. argenteus, H. corvinaeformis, and L. synagris) are currently overexploited (F/M > 1 and B/B_MSY < 1), while B. marinus is experiencing overfishing (F/M > 1 and B/B_MSY > 1), with a high risk of surpassing its maximum sustainable yield. These outcomes confirm that demersal fish populations in the Colombian Caribbean are being exploited beyond sustainable biological limits. With the aim of promoting stock recovery and long-term sustainability, this study recommends the implementation of recently evaluated management measures focused on (i) the implementation and enforcement of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs); (ii) the regulation and monitoring of trawl net mesh sizes to improve selectivity patterns; (iii) the establishment of spatial and temporal closures in critical spawning areas for demersal fish species; and (iv) the strengthening of fishery monitoring and data collection systems. The findings provide critical baseline information and a methodological framework to support evidence-based fishery management and conservation strategies in tropical multispecies fisheries under data-limited conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-based dietary patterns like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) reduce cardiovascular risk, which is a leading cause of mortality globally and in Spain. Diet is also a major environmental determinant, highlighting the need to evaluate public health alongside environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of adherence to the DASH dietary pattern in Spain between 2006 and 2023 and evaluate its relationship with environmental sustainability indicators. Methods: This was an ecological epidemiological study. Food consumption data were harmonized into daily servings to calculate annual DASH scores using a standard 80-point methodology. Environmental impact was assessed by calculating the comprehensive Ecological Footprint (EF) using the Agribalyse^® 3.2 database. The study utilized open data from the Spanish Household Budget Surveys, capturing the consumption habits of approximately 24,000 randomly selected Spanish households annually from 2006 to 2023. The primary measures evaluated were the annual DASH adherence index score and the overall environmental Ecological Footprint. Temporal trends were evaluated using segmented regression models selected via the Akaike Information Criterion and Davies test. Pareto analysis determined individual food group environmental contributions, and correlations assessed the relationship between DASH scores and the EF. Results: DASH adherence increased by 8.26% over the study period, peaking in 2020. The EF demonstrated an overall decrease over time, largely driven by reduced consumption of meat, fish, and eggs. A strong inverse correlation was found between the DASH score and the EF (r = −0.8237 (95% CI: −0.932 to −0.580; p < 0.001)). Conclusions: A shift toward the DASH dietary pattern in Spain demonstrates potentially convergent health and environmental associations, promoting population cardiovascular health potential while simultaneously mitigating environmental impacts. Full article

Understanding the trophic ecology of fish in mountain lakes is essential for interpreting their functional roles and managing these ecosystems. This study investigated the diet, population structure, and prey selectivity of lake charr (Salvelinus umbla) in three glacial basins of the Eastern Italian Alps: Fusine Superiore, Fusine Inferiore, and Raibl Lakes. In summer 2024, 106 fish were sampled using multi-mesh gillnets, alongside Surber sampling of littoral macrobenthos. Biometric analysis revealed populations dominated by larger size classes (>18 cm), with significant sexual dimorphism, as females were longer and heavier than males. Dietary analysis showed strong reliance on littoral Hexapoda (~90% of prey). High Schoener’s overlap index values (α > 0.90) indicated no clear ontogenetic dietary shifts in the sampled size classes, suggesting that the productive littoral zone provides a stable resource. Ivlev’s electivity index revealed lake-specific prey selection patterns, with Hexapoda positively selected in Lake Fusine Inferiore, Bivalvia and Malacostraca positively selected in Lake Raibl, and weak or absent selectivity in Lake Fusine Superiore. S. umbla appears to be a broad opportunistic feeder with site-specific prey selectivity shaped by local resource structure. Given its debated native status, these findings provide an ecological baseline for assessing its potential effects on benthic communities. Full article

Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is a commercially important pelagic species in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Accurate identification of its fishing grounds can provide a more robust and targeted scientific basis for fishery management and ecological research. Based on fishing effort and five environmental factors (i.e., sea surface temperature [SST], chlorophyll-a concentration [CHL], SST gradient [GSST], sea surface height [SSH], and current speed), this study developed a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) rule-guided MaxEnt model. Specifically, rules generated by the CART model were first extracted and then incorporated as constrained feature functions into MaxEnt for model training. To select the optimal model scheme, four combinations of rule compositions and feature function outputs were designed, and model performance on the validation dataset was evaluated using ROC curves. Finally, the model was further verified with in situ environmental and fisheries data from April to November 2024. Results showed that the predicted fishing grounds were highly aligned with the actual monthly fishing grounds in 2024, and the predicted migration routes matched the movement trajectory of fishing vessels. The model also exhibited satisfactory performance, achieving an average AUC of 0.722 ± 0.033, a sensitivity of 0.604, a specificity of 0.834, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.978. In conclusion, the CART rule-guided MaxEnt model, integrating the interpretability of CART and the predictive power of MaxEnt, effectively predicts the spatial distribution of chub mackerel fishing grounds in the northwest Pacific Ocean, providing technical support for fishery management and ecological research. Full article

Pharmaceutical and microbial pollution in urban rivers is an emerging concern, particularly in developing regions with limited wastewater treatment capacity, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. This study evaluated the risk profiles of selected pharmaceutical compounds and bacterial indicators in the Sand River, South Africa, and computed their ecological risks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and human health risk assessment. Surface water samples were collected from three sites during the wet season and analyzed for target antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array (PDA) detector, while total coliforms (TCs) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were enumerated using the Colilert system. Ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin were the most abundant pharmaceuticals, with maximum concentrations of 2.50 µg/L, 2.76 µg/L, and 2.53 µg/L, respectively. TC and E. coli levels exceeded regulatory thresholds, indicating severe microbial contamination. Risk quotient analysis identified ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim as high-risk compounds for potential resistance selection (RQ ≥ 1), while ciprofloxacin and erythromycin posed significant ecological risks to fish. Although non-carcinogenic health risk assessment remained below concern (HI < 1), children showed higher exposure levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved pharmaceutical waste management and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Full article