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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are relevant worldwide chronic diseases. A common complication in both pathologies is the dysregulation of the insulin-signaling pathway that is crucial to maintain an accurate glucose homeostasis. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds abundant in fruits, vegetables and seeds. Rising evidence supports a role for the flavonoids against T2D and obesity, and at present, these compounds are considered as important potential chemopreventive agents. This review summarizes in vitro and in vivo studies providing data related to the effects of flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods on the modulation of the insulin route during T2D and obesity. Notably, few human studies have evaluated the regulatory effect of these phenolic compounds at molecular level on the insulin pathway. In this context, it is also important to note that the mechanism of action for the flavonoids is not fully characterized and that a proper dosage to obtain a beneficial effect on health has not been defined yet. Further investigations will contribute to solve all these critical challenges and will enable the use of flavonoids to prevent, delay or support the treatment of T2D and obesity.

Virgin olive oil (VOO), characterized by its unique aroma, flavor, and health benefits, is subject to adulteration with the addition of oils obtained from other edible species. The consumption of adulterated olive oil with nut species, such as hazelnut or almond, leads to health and safety issues for consumers, due to their high allergenic potential. To detect almond and hazelnut in olive oil, several amplification systems have been analyzed by qPCR assay with a SYBR Green post-PCR melting curve analysis. The systems selected were Cora1F2/R2 and Madl, targeting the genes coding the allergenic protein Cor a 1 (hazelnut) and Pru av 1 (almond), respectively. These primers revealed adequate specificity for each of the targeted species. In addition, the result obtained demonstrated that this methodology can be used to detect olive oil adulteration with up to 5% of hazelnut or almond oil by a single qPCR assay, and with a level as low as 2.5% by a nested-qPCR assay. Thus, the present research has shown that the SYBR-based qPCR assay can be a rapid, precise, and accurate method to detect adulteration in olive oil.

Exophiala dermatitidis , a polyextremotolerant black yeast, thrives in diverse natural and human-made environments. Additionally, it is an opportunistic pathogen, capable of infecting immunocompromised individuals, particularly causing neurotropic infections. This study examined 41  E. dermatitidis strains from diverse environments, investigating their growth under different temperatures, NaCl concentrations, and pH levels. Optimal growth occurred at 28 °C, with large variations among strains at other temperatures, from 4 to 42 °C. Growth was enhanced at 5% NaCl, though strains also grew at 10% and 17% NaCl. Growth varied across different pH levels, from pH 2.5 to 12.5. Most strains showed the highest biofilm formation at 37 °C, α- and γ-hemolysis and resistance to antifungal agents. Better growth was detected on neurotransmitters than on (poly)aromatic compounds. High-throughput metabolic analyses revealed consistent oxidation patterns across 94 carbon sources in five selected strains. Genomic analysis revealed a diverse repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes and pathways for degrading polyaromatic hydrocarbons and neurotransmitters. Melanin biosynthesis inhibitor tricyclazole minimally affected E. dermatitidis growth under stress, but induced morphological changes in some cases. This study underscores E. dermatitidis ’ urban extremophilic nature, with high resilience, metabolic adaptability, and potential for heightened pathogenicity in evolving global conditions.

Background The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is known for its rich animal and plant biodiversity, yet its microbial communities remain largely unknown. The reserve does not possess permanent bodies of water; nevertheless, seasonal depressions associated with fractures create wetlands, known locally as aguadas . Given the recent construction of the Maya train that crosses the CRB, it is essential to assess the biodiversity of its microorganisms and recognize their potential as a valuable source of goods. This evaluation is pivotal in mitigating potential mismanagement of the forest ecosystem. To enhance comprehension of microbial communities, we characterized the microbiota in three different wetlands. Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 wetlands are located in a zone without human disturbances, while the third, Ag-SU3, is in a semi-urbanized zone. Sampling was carried out over three years (2017, 2018, and 2019), enabling the monitoring of spatiotemporal variations in bacterial community diversity. The characterization of microbiome composition was conducted using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Concurrently, the genomic potential of select samples was examined through shotgun metagenomics. Results Statistical analysis of alpha and beta diversity indices showed significant differences among the bacterial communities found in undisturbed sites Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 compared to Ag-SU3. However, no significant differences were observed among sites belonging to the undisturbed area. Furthermore, a comparative analysis at the zone level reveals substantial divergence among the communities, indicating that the geographic location of the samples significantly influences these patterns. The bacterial communities in the CBR wetlands predominantly consist of genera from phyla Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Conclusion This characterization has identified the composition of microbial communities and provided the initial overview of the metabolic capacities of the microbiomes inhabiting the aguadas across diverse conservation zones. The three sites exhibit distinct microbial compositions, suggesting that variables such as chemical composition, natural and anthropogenic disturbances, vegetation, and fauna may play a pivotal role in determining the microbial structure of the aguadas . This study establishes a foundational baseline for evaluating the impact of climatic factors and human interventions on critical environments such as wetlands.

Purpose Diabetes is a pro-inflammatory state associated with increased monocyte activity. NF-κB is the master switch of inflammation and is activated during diabetes. (−)-Epicatechin (EC), the main cocoa flavonol, displays anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects under high glucose conditions. Recently, it has been suggested that dietary polyphenols might modulate chromatin remodelling by epigenetic changes and regulate monocyte NF-κB activation and cytokine expression under diabetic conditions. The aim of the study was to test the potential anti-inflammatory role of EC via inducing posttranslational histone changes in the presence of a high glucose (HG) concentrations. Methods Human monocytic cells (THP-1 cells) were pre-treated with EC (5 μM) and 4 h later exposed to 25 mM glucose (HG) for a total of 24 h. Control cells were grown under normoglycemic conditions (NG, 5.5 mM glucose). Acetyl CBP/p300, HDAC4, total histone 3 (HH3), H3K9ac, H3K4me2 and H3K9me2, and phosphorylated and total levels of p65-NF-κB were analysed by Western blot. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity was measured in nuclear lysates, and TNF-α release was evaluated in culture media. Results EC incubation restored to control levels (NG) the changes induced by HG in p-p65/p65-NF-ĸB ratio, acetyl CBP/p300 values and HAT activity. Moreover, EC pre-treatment counteracted the increased acetylation of H3K9 and H3K4 dimethylation and attenuated the diminished H3K9 dimethylation triggered by HG. EC also significantly decreased HG-enhanced HDAC4 levels and TNF-α release, respectively. Conclusions EC induces epigenetic changes and decreased NF-κB and TNF-α levels in human monocytes cultured in HG conditions such as in diabetes.

In recent years, the fermented milk product kefir has been intensively studied because of its health benefits. Here, we evaluated the microbial consortia of two kefir samples, from Escarcega, Campeche, and Campeche (México). We considered a functional comparison between both samples, including fungal and bacterial inhibition; second, we applied shotgun metagenomics to assess the structure and functional diversity of the communities of microorganisms. These two samples exhibited antagonisms against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Bioactive polyketides and nonribosomal peptides were identified by LC‐HRMS analysis. We also observed a high bacterial diversity and an abundance of Actinobacteria in both kefir samples, and a greater abundance of Saccharomyces species in kefir of Escarcega than in the Campeche kefir. When the prophage compositions were evaluated, the Campeche sample showed a higher diversity of prophage sequences. In Escarcega, we observed a prevalence of prophage families that infect Enterobacteria and Lactobacillus. The sequences associated with secondary metabolites, such as plipastatin, fengycin, and bacillaene, and also bacteriocins like helveticin and zoocin, were also found in different proportions, with greater diversity in the Escarcega sample. The analyses described in this work open the opportunity to understand the microbial diversity in kefir samples from two distant localities. Two kefir samples from Escarcega and Campeche, México, exhibited antagonisms against bacterial and fungal pathogens. We observed a high bacterial diversity and an abundance of Actinobacteria in both kefirs, and a greater abundance of Saccharomyces species in kefir from Escarcega. Bioactive polyketides and nonribosomal peptides were identified by liquid chromatography–high‐resolution accurate mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) analysis. The sequences of secondary metabolites, such as plipastatin, fengycin, and bacillaene, and bacteriocins (e.g., helveticin and zoocin), were found with greater diversity in the Escarcega sample.

The reconstruction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) has improved our knowledge of how microbiomes perform biological and chemical processes in diverse ecosystems, including extreme environments. However, in Latin America, these ecosystems have received insufficient attention. In this study, we used shotgun metagenomics to reconstruct MAGs in Acos a high-altitude intermediate saline system in Cusco, Peru. Most of the MAGs detected were classified only at the phylum level, indicating significant phylogenetic novelty. Of particular note is the presence of two poorly characterized archaeal MAGs from the genus Methanonatronarchaeum , belonging to the phylum Halobacteriota. All reconstructed MAGs displayed a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways associated with the nitrogen and sulfur cycles, indicating metabolic versatility that allows them to cope with the harsh conditions of the saline environment. Both bacterial and archaeal MAGs are enriched in various metabolic processes related to the metabolism of amino acid and nitrogenous compounds; this could indicate a mechanism for adapting to osmotic stress. Among the genes detected, those involved in the degradation of the common herbicide atrazine were identified; this provides information on potential microbial mediation processes for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. Furthermore, and equally important, these habitats harbor a great diversity of viruses, many of which have unknown in current databases. Taxonomic classification revealed bacteriophages belonging to the class Caudoviricetes, specifically the families Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, and Podoviridae. Overall, our work provides high-quality MAGs that expand current knowledge of the diversity, function, and ecological dynamics of Bacteria, Archaea, and viruses in high-altitude intermediate saline environments.

This study evaluated the effect of yeast supplementation on rumen microbial diversity and fermentation potential in cattle. Four rumen-fistulated cattle were assigned to four treatments: T0(control), T1(150 mL LEBAS®/kg feed), T2(300 mL LEBAS®/kg feed) and T3(12 g lyophilized yeast/day) across four 15-day periods in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Due to the removal of one animal for health reasons, the final dataset was analyzed as an unbalanced design. The DNA from ruminal fluid was analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing to assess bacterial, archaeal, fungal, protozoal and viral communities, as well as functional and CAZyme annotations. A total of 429,682 high-quality sequences were used for taxonomic and functional analyses. Across all treatments, archaea were dominated by Methanobrevibacter and Methanosarcina, bacteria by Butyrivibrio and Prevotella, fungi by Aspergillus and Penicillium, protozoa by Plasmodium and Symbiodinium and viruses by Myoviridae and Podoviridae; no significant differences were observed among all microbial communities (P > 0.05). Functional annotations were mainly associated with carbohydrate metabolism, with no significant differences (P > 0.05). Enzymatic analysis identified families involved in cellulose, hemicellulose and starch degradation. Alpha diversity indices did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05). In summary, LEBAS® supplementation did not significantly alter the rumen microbial composition, diversity or functional potential under the experimental conditions.

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes and one of the most common chronic diseases. Control of hyperglycaemia by hypoglycaemic drugs is insufficient in for patients and nutritional approaches are currently being explored. Natural dietary compounds such as flavonoids, abundant in fruits and vegetables, have received broad attention because of their potential capacity to act as anti-diabetic agents. Especially cocoa flavonoids have been proved to ameliorate important hallmarks of T2D. In this review, an update of the most relevant reports published during the last decade in cell culture, animal models and human studies is presented. Most results support an anti-diabetic effect of cocoa flavonoids by enhancing insulin secretion, improving insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues, exerting a lipid-lowering effect and preventing the oxidative and inflammatory damages associated to the disease. While it could be suggested that daily consumption of flavanols from cocoa or dark chocolate would constitute a potential preventive tool useful for the nutritional management of T2D, this recommendation should be cautious since most of commercially available soluble cocoa products or chocolates contain low amount of flavanols and are rich in sugar and calories that may aggravate glycaemic control in T2D patients.

Environmental stressors such as poor water quality, overstocking, and temperature spikes force shrimp to divert energy from growth and immunity to maintain homeostasis, increasing their susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens. Despite this risk, information on how these conditions affect viral and bacterial abundance, diversity, and community structure in shrimp farms remains scarce. To address this gap, this study offers a broad metagenomic analysis of the viral and bacterial communities in a shrimp farm, uncovering their diversity and ecological significance. In total, 13,572 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) were recovered. Most viruses belonged to the realm Duplodnaviria, with Caudoviricetes dominating the libraries. Additionally, some contigs were linked to the Iridoviridae, a family that can affect fish and shrimp. Taken together, these findings highlight the critical role of virus–host interactions in marine environments and underscore the utility of metagenomic analysis for monitoring and safeguarding aquaculture health.