Search Results (702)

High ammonia nitrogen stress significantly compromises the survival of Litopenaeus vannamei under low-salinity conditions. However, existing studies predominantly focus on ammonia nitrogen responses under single stressors or normal seawater salinity. The molecular regulatory mechanisms, metabolic remodeling patterns, and key pathway interactions in shrimp subjected to high ammonia nitrogen stress under low-salinity environment remain unclear. In this study, we employed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to unveil the underlying molecular responses and metabolic biomarkers in the gills of L. vannamei to ammonia stress under low-salinity conditions. First, L. vannamei underwent low-salinity acclimation from 30‰ to 5‰ salinity and was then reared for one week to acclimate to the experimental environment. Subsequently, shrimp were treated with 42.32 mg/L ammonia nitrogen for a consecutive 96 h period. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses elucidated the stress response patterns in the gills of L. vannamei under low-salinity ammonia nitrogen exposure. Specifically, 352, 802, and 140 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 12 h, 48 h, and 96 h post-exposure, respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the significant DEGs were primarily enriched in six major pathways: autophagy, immune-related pathway, ABC transporter, fatty acid degradation and metabolism, metabolic pathway, and PPAR signaling pathway. Metabolomic profiling identified numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in both positive and negative ion modes, with significantly altered DAMs mainly consisting of organic acids and their derivatives, phospholipids, and other related metabolites. Key DAMs included taurine, guanosine, 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, pseudouridine, and betaine. Integrative multi-omics analysis revealed that L. vannamei mediates stress responses by modulating five core pathways under low-salinity/high-ammonia-nitrogen dual stress: fatty acid degradation and metabolism (e.g., acyl-CoA dehydrogenase short chain (Acads), acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2)), autophagy (e.g., autophagy-related protein 101-like (atg101)), immune regulation pathway (e.g., V-type proton ATPase subunit H-like (VhaSFD), actin-5C-like (Act5C)), metabolic pathway (e.g., molybdopterin synthase catalytic subunit-like (Mocs2B), cytochrome P450 2U1-like (Cyp2b1)), and ABC transporter (e.g., ATP-binding cassette sub-family D member 3-like (ABCD3), ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 10 (ABCB10)). Through characterization of these core pathways, this study reveals the fundamental mechanisms by which L. vannamei responds to high ammonia nitrogen stress following low-salinity acclimation, providing a theoretical foundation for estuarine shrimp farming. Full article

Taurine is abundant in seminal plasma and is involved in redox balance, osmoregulation, and sperm membrane stability. However, its role in protecting dairy goat bucks against heat stress-associated declines in sperm quality remains unclear. In this study, eighteen Guanzhong dairy goat bucks were assigned to three groups: control (NC), field heat stress (HS), and HS with taurine supplementation (HS + Tau). Heat stress reduced seminal plasma taurine abundance and was associated with metabolic reprogramming, impaired sperm quality, disturbed redox homeostasis, and decreased LH and testosterone levels. Specifically, HS reduced sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity, and kinematic performance, increased sperm abnormalities, and shortened in vitro sperm survival time. Taurine supplementation alleviated these adverse changes and shifted the seminal plasma metabolome toward a more homeostatic profile. Metabolomic analysis indicated that HS was associated with the accumulation of long-chain acylcarnitines in seminal plasma. Complementary mouse and TM4 Sertoli cell experiments provided preliminary mechanistic support, suggesting that taurine may partially protect Sertoli cell tight-junction proteins, particularly ZO-1, under heat- and acylcarnitine-related stress, and may be associated with the modulation of p38/AKT signaling. Collectively, these findings suggest that taurine alleviates heat stress-induced declines in sperm quality in dairy goat bucks, at least in part, by modulating seminal plasma metabolism. Full article

The storage quality of fresh-cut peach fruit is compromised by weight loss and chromatic aberration. In this experiment, taurine at 30 mg L⁻¹ was applied to fresh-cut peaches to evaluate its effect on storage quality. Changes in weight loss, chromatic aberration, antioxidant system, endogenous nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) metabolism, and phenylpropanoid metabolism were studied. The results indicated that 30 mg L⁻¹ taurine effectively improved the ability to scavenge ROS, including •OH, O₂^•−, MDA, and H₂O₂, by inhibiting the decrease in the activities of SOD and CAT, enhancing POD activity, reducing PPO activity, and maintaining the AsA-GSH cycle. Moreover, taurine treatment increased the activities of 4CL and PAL and retarded the decrease in the activities of SKDH and C4H, thereby improving the accumulation of total phenols, flavonoids, and lignin. These findings showed that taurine mitigated oxidative damage in fresh-cut peaches by enhancing the antioxidant defense system. Exogenous taurine consistently enhanced NOS-like activity while decreasing NR activity in the early storage phase, and elevated the contents of L-Arginine, nitrite, and endogenous NO. Taurine treatment up-regulated the activities of SAT, L-CD, and OAS-TL, thus promoting endogenous H₂S content in fresh-cut peaches. Taurine alleviated weight loss and chromatic aberration in fresh-cut peaches during storage by enhancing the antioxidant system and modulating NO, H₂S and phenylpropanoid metabolism. Full article

Recent evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori can act outside stomach by influencing the gut microbiome. We hypothesize that interactions between H. pylori and the gut microbiome, and the resulting changes in the gut chemicals (bile acids and bacterial signaling molecules involved in quorum sensing, e.g., autoinducer-2/AI-2), influence pathogen survival, antibiotic response, and disease progression. Our gut microbiome, bile acid, and AI-2 analyses showed that H. pylori patients had decreased alpha diversity (p = 0.05), increased AI-2 concentration (p = 0.019), decreased taurine-conjugated bile acids, and increased unconjugated bile acids. A co-occurring module of Prevotella, Holdemanella, and Subdoligranulum, was higher in patients (p = 0.04) and relative abundance of Allisonella was positively associated with levels of unconjugated bile acids, chenodeoxycholic acid, and cholic acid (p = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). Our study is the first to characterize the gut microbiome-metabolome signature (bile acids and AI-2) in H. pylori patients. Abundance of certain bacteria that deconjugate bile acids along with increased AI-2 possibly gives selective advantage for H. pylori growth, further reducing microbial diversity. Taurine-conjugated bile acids inhibit H. pylori growth. We propose a model describing interplay of these factors in H. pylori disease progression, suggesting therapeutic targets worth exploring with rising antibiotic resistance. Full article

Background: Refugees arriving from conflict zones often continue to experience trauma and are at increased risk of anxiety and depression. Those seeking asylum form a group at higher risk of suffering adverse mental health outcomes, with higher needs for psychosocial and therapeutic care. This study aimed to determine metabolic changes potentially associated with psychological distress in refugees from Syria, using a saliva-based metabolomics approach via proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Methods: Participants were recruited from Lethbridge Family Services and categorized into high and low stress burden groups using questionnaires assessing depression (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety (GAD-7). Salivary metabolomic profiles from 26 female and 32 male participants were analyzed using supervised and unsupervised multivariate statistical methods to identify metabolic differences linked to composite stress, depression, and anxiety. Results: Salivary metabolic profiles showed the most prominent differences associated with anxiety in female participants and depression in male participants. Multivariate statistical analyses identified 31 metabolites and 13 biological pathways that were significantly altered according to mental health status, with the greatest changes observed in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, sphingolipid metabolism, and taurine/hypotaurine metabolism. Conclusions: These findings indicate that salivary 1H NMR metabolomic profiling can identify a quantifiable “metabolic fingerprint” related to impaired mental health and psychological distress in a cost-effective, objective, and non-invasive way. This analytical strategy shows potential as a screening tool to support effective decision-making, enabling early identification of individuals at highest risk who require timely emotional and medical support. Full article

Barbatic acid (BA), a phenolic compound isolated from Pyrrosia petiolosa (Christ) Ching, was investigated for its diuretic effects and underlying mechanisms following oral administration in rats using UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and pharmacokinetics. In a water-loaded rat model, BA (28 and 56 mg/kg) significantly increased 6 h urine output (1.5-fold vs. model, p < 0.01) and promoted urinary excretion of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ (1.1–1.4-fold, p < 0.05–0.01). Metabolomic analysis revealed that BA modulates amino acid metabolism pathways, including cysteine and methionine metabolism (impact score 0.16), tyrosine metabolism (impact score 0.10), histidine metabolism (impact score 0.12), taurine hypotaurine metabolismand (impact score 0.43), and phenylalanine metabolism (impact score 0.14). Pharmacokinetic evaluation showed dose-dependent half-lives of 5.88, 5.23, and 2.61 h at 28, 56, and 112 mg/kg, respectively, with Cmax and AUC increasing proportionally with dose (r² > 0.99). These findings provide the first integrated evidence supporting BA as a potential novel diuretic agent with a mechanism involving amino acid metabolism regulation. Full article

This study evaluated the nutritional adequacy of commercial dog and cat foods in South Korea by comparing analytically determined nutrient contents with recommended nutrient levels of the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). A total of 96 pet food products for puppies (n = 50), adult dogs (n = 18), kittens (n = 17), and adult cats (n = 11) were collected. Nutrients, including crude protein, crude fat, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, major minerals, and selected trace nutrients, were analyzed using accredited methods stipulated by the Korean Feed Control Act and compared with NIAS and AAFCO recommendations. Most adult dog and cat diets met recommended nutrient levels; however, deficiencies were identified in diets intended for growth. Puppy foods showed inadequate levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA + DHA, 72%), calcium (22%), and phosphorus (42%), as well as imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratios (12%). In kitten diets, insufficient EPA + DHA (41.2%) and taurine (11.8%) were observed. In contrast, 82.3% of products met label-declared guaranteed analysis values for seven mandatory nutrients. These results provide baseline information on the nutritional adequacy and labeling compliance of pet foods across different life stages. Full article

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying drought adaptability in Duolang sheep, a local breed from two distinct habitats in Xinjiang—an arid southern region and a grassland northern region—aiming to identify key factors driving differential environmental adaptation. Integrated multi-omics analyses were performed, including serum biochemical assays, untargeted metabolomics of perirenal and tail fat tissues, and transcriptomic profiling of lung, liver, and kidney samples. Our results revealed notable differences: (1) serum levels of GSH-Px, IL-2, and IgG were significantly higher in the southern group (p < 0.01); (2) metabolomic analysis identified key differential metabolites, including EPA (involved in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis), choline (glycerophospholipid metabolism), L-serine and glutathione (cofactor biosynthesis), and taurine (sulfur metabolism); and (3) transcriptomic analysis revealed significant differential expression of genes such as FGF21 (thermogenesis), CD14 and DUSP2 (MAPK signaling pathway), GOT1 (arginine biosynthesis), and AVPR2 (vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption). Integrative correlation analysis further indicated that glutathione, EPA, GOT1, and CD14 are involved in energy and lipid metabolism, while taurine, AVPR2, and DUSP2 contribute to oxidative stress resistance and immune regulation. These molecular and metabolic adjustments collectively enhance drought adaptability in southern Xinjiang Duolang sheep. In conclusion, adaptation to arid environments requires enhanced antioxidant capacity and immune function, with metabolites such as EPA supporting lipid metabolism and genes such as FGF21 regulating fatty acid oxidation to limit triglyceride accumulation. Full article

Domestic cattle represent one of the most significant evolutionary successes in the history of human–animal mutualism. This review synthesizes evidence from paleogenomics and modern population genetics, particularly recent pangenome analyses, to reconstruct a comprehensive evolutionary trajectory of cattle. We outline the two domestication events: the emergence of taurine cattle (Bos taurus) in the Fertile Crescent (~10,500 years ago) and zebu cattle (Bos indicus) in the Indus Valley (~8000 years ago). Following domestication, cattle dispersed globally alongside human migration, resulting in a complex genetic mosaic shaped by introgression with wild relatives and extensive admixture between lineages. By integrating data from mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome haplotypes, and whole-genome sequencing of modern, ancient, and wild samples, we reconstruct the detailed global dispersal of cattle. Furthermore, we dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic diversity, emphasizing how natural selection has driven environmental adaptation, how artificial selection has optimized production traits, and how the emerging bovine pangenome is unveiling “hidden” genetic variations critical for climate resilience and disease resistance. Ultimately, this review summarizes the origin, dispersal, and genomic diversity of cattle, offering vital insights for the conservation of indigenous genetic resources and the advancement of molecular breeding strategies in the face of a changing global climate. Full article

Objective: Adequate sleep is vital for children’s growth and well-being. This study investigates serum amino acid and fatty acid metabolic indicators in children with sleep disorders, identifies independent factors, and develops a predictive model. Methods: A total of 143 children diagnosed with sleep disorders (n = 143) were compared to 120 typically developing children (n = 120). Serum levels of 12 amino acids and 7 fatty acids were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Differences between groups were assessed using t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Independent factors were identified via multivariate logistic regression, leading to the construction of a predictive model. Its diagnostic efficacy was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Subgroup analysis of different sleep disorder subtypes was also performed to explore metabolic characteristic differences. Results: Significant differences in multiple metabolic indicators were found (p < 0.05) between these two groups. Seven amino acids were elevated, including glutamine and tryptophan, while linoleic acid and taurine levels were reduced. Analysis of four sleep disorder subtypes revealed no significant differences in most metabolic indicators among subtypes, with only taurine levels showing notable heterogeneity, the highest in parasomnia and the lowest in insomnia. Multivariate analysis revealed that arachidonic acid (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.649–0.866), the ratio of cerotic acid to behenic acid (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.186–0.816), aspartic acid (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.040–1.164), glutamine (OR = 1.009, 95% CI: 1.004–1.014), taurine (OR = 0.985, 95% CI: 0.974–0.995), and phenylalanine (OR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.018–1.078) were identified as independent factors for the development of sleep disorders (p < 0.05). The predictive model achieved the area under the ROC curve of 0.935 (95% CI: 0.904–0.967), with a threshold of 0.748 yielding sensitivity of 0.881 and specificity of 0.867. Ten-fold cross-validation confirmed robust generalizability (AUC: 0.927–0.916), and adjustable thresholds enabled flexible clinical application. Calibration curves and DCA demonstrated good agreement and clinical utility. Conclusions: Children with sleep disorders exhibit notable serum metabolic disturbances. The developed predictive model provides high diagnostic value and practicality for early screening and targeted interventions. Full article

Live fish transport easily induces severe physiological stress, marked by pronounced oxidative damage and significant mortality, leading to substantial economic losses annually. Here, we evaluated the effects of taurine intake on alleviating stress response during transportation of Culter alburnus. Juvenile fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 g/kg taurine for 8 weeks before undergoing 12 h of simulated transport. The results showed that taurine supplementation significantly improved growth performance in a dose-dependent manner. During transportation, the deterioration of water quality and the damage of gill tissue decreased with the increase in concentration. The determination of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) showed that 2.0 g/kg taurine improved antioxidant capacity. The high-concentration taurine group enhanced the activities of immune enzymes such as acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), while the activity of total nitric oxide synthase (T-NOS) was inhibited. The antioxidant immune effect of the 0.5 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg concentration groups was not obvious. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 2.0 g/kg taurine enhanced the antioxidative stress capacity of C. alburnus by upregulating the expression of immune-related genes (TLR5, Il12b) and activating the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway as well as the cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction pathway. These findings demonstrated that dietary taurine improved resilience to transport stress in C. alburnus. Full article

The bovine tongue is a complex and very important muscular and gustatory organ, yet a comprehensive understanding of its gustatory apparatus across diverse genetic resources remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a multidimensional analysis of the lingual morphology and taste bud (TB) distribution in 40 specimens from 12 representative bovine breeds and species across China, encompassing Bos taurus taurus (Taurine cattle), Bos taurus indicus (Zebu cattle), Bubalus bubalis (water buffalo), and Bos grunniens (domestic yak). Morphometric measurements and histological quantifications were integrated to evaluate the influence of species, sex, age, and geographical factors. Given the relatively limited sample size per breed, these findings are presented as exploratory research. Our results revealed that yak and water buffalo showed the most distinct morphological patterns of mechanical papillae compared to the other populations. Taurine and Zebu cattle displayed more similar lingual morphology traits. Although high phenotypic correlations were observed between lingual morphometric parameters and quantitative papillae indicators, factors such as age, altitude, and feeding methods showed minimal influence on lingual phenotypic variation within this cohort (p > 0.05). Furthermore, we constructed a topological atlas of TB distribution, revealing that TB distribution patterns are decoupled from macro-anatomical dimensions, highlighting the complexity of the bovine gustatory system. These findings provide a quantitative baseline for ruminant comparative anatomy and offer structural insights into the evolutionary adaptation and nutrient regulation mechanisms of diverse bovine species in varying environments. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease is driven by converging pathological processes, including amyloid-β accumulation, tau dysfunction, synaptic failure, and chronic neuroinflammation, which emerge decades before clinical onset. Growing evidence supports the concept that early, upstream neuroprotective interventions may meaningfully alter disease trajectory in both sporadic and familial AD. Taurine, an endogenously abundant and clinically safe neuromodulator, has re-emerged as a promising multi-target regulator of AD-relevant pathways. Accumulating mechanistic data indicate that taurine modulates Aβ aggregation, attenuates oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, preserves mitochondrial homeostasis, suppresses neuroinflammatory signaling, and stabilizes synaptic function, positioning it as a promising upstream intervention strategy in AD. This review synthesizes current evidence supporting taurine’s pleiotropic neuroprotective actions and discusses its translational potential as an early-stage, low-risk intervention to delay or prevent AD progression. Full article

To comply with new pastoral regulations in Benin, herders are increasingly adopting sedentary cattle systems, which may pose environmental risks if poorly managed. This study assessed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from three sedentary cattle farm types: zebu (SZF), taurine (STF), and crossbreed (SCF), across two vegetation zones: Sudanian (SZ) and Guineo-Congolian (GCZ) using the GLEAM-i model, online version. Irrespective of the farm type, the animals were exclusively fed on natural pasture. A total of 12 cattle herds were surveyed to collect input data (herd structure, demographic parameters, milk production and composition, and weight data) for the GLEAM-i. The fat and protein content of the milk (determined using a milkotester device), the live weight, and weight at slaughter of animals were entered into the GLEAM-i, which automatically determines the emission intensity values per kg of protein produced. The results revealed that CH₄ was the main GHG emitted (88%), followed by CO₂ (6–7%) and N₂O (6%). The highest and lowest total GHG emissions (kgCO₂-eq/year) were recorded in SZF (188,497) and STF (52,003) farms, respectively. With regard to emission intensity (kgCO₂-eq/kg protein), this varied from 506.59 to 3043.73 for meat and from 588.86 to 3043.73 for milk. Overall, preliminary trends suggest lower emission intensities for taurine in the GCZ and for zebu in the SZ. However, these results would be more meaningful and more accurate if emission values were directly measured from individual animals using the GreenFeed Technology under current production conditions, using various pasture resources and controlled allocation. These would allow us to make firm recommendations for breeding strategies to reduce GHG emissions in Benin’s extensive livestock production system. Full article