Explore the vast range of titles available.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of essential oil from Aloysia citrodora (EOAC) (48% citral and 19% limonene) for use in anesthesia and simulated transport of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) juveniles at two cargo densities (CDs). Concentrations of 0 (control), 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 µL EOAC L−1 were tested for use in anesthesia induction and recovery, while 0 (control) and 20 µL EOAC L−1 were tested for their effects on the ventilatory rate (VR) and during 6 h simulated transport at a low CD (LCD, 65 g L−1) and standard CD (SCD, 130 g L−1). Fish were anesthetized at EOAC concentrations above 50 µL L−1, with the optimal anesthesia (141.83 s) and recovery times (160.00 s) at 250 µL L−1. The water unionized ammonia was lowest in the EOAC-LCD group. Using 20 µL EOAC L−1 during transport minimized changes in the hematological parameters (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total leukocytes, and heterophils) and reduced the liver aspartate aminotransferase activity at both CDs. Transport at an SCD, regardless of EOAC use, increased the plasma glucose, hepatic glycogen, and alanine transaminase activity. The VR was higher with 20 µL EOAC L−1 than in the control group. In conclusion, our findings confirm that 20 µL EOAC L−1 can effectively be used to transport tambaqui for up to 6 h without impairing fish health.

KCI Citation Count: 0

Physalis peruviana L. (Cape gooseberry) is susceptible to several pathogens, among which the sobemovirus physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV) is most prominent. This study investigated the anatomical, morphophysiological, and metabolic responses of P. peruviana to PhyRMV over the course of the infection cycle. P. peruviana plants were grown under greenhouse conditions (24 ± 2 ℃) and mechanically inoculated with buffer (mock) or PhyRMV inoculum. The local and systemic leaves were collected at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 42 days after inoculation (DAI) and viral infection was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Morphological traits, including plant height, symptoms, and the Falker chlorophyll index, and histological changes were evaluated in PhyRMV-infected plants and compared to mock-inoculated controls. To characterize and compare their metabolic profile, the collected leaves were processed and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Yield was also assessed by quantifying the number and weight of fruits. PhyRMV could be detected in systemic leaves from 14 DAI onward, accompanied by an increase in viral load and the intensification of the symptoms, including mosaic, chlorosis, and leaf deformation from 21 DAI onward, which were associated with reduced plant height and chlorophyll contents. At 42 DAI, histological changes and increased starch accumulation were observed in the infected leaves, suggesting impaired photoassimilate transport. GC-MS revealed an accumulation of sucrose, pyruvate, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites, possibly due to the high energy demand associated with viral replication, indicating significant alterations in the functioning of the central metabolic pathways in systemic leaves in the late stage of infection at 42 DAI. Compounds such as glutamate, isoleucine, and malonate could potentially be involved in the activation of defense pathways, including the shikimic acid pathway. Metabolic networks demonstrated a loss of complexity in the infected plants, indicating a redirection of resources from primary metabolism to defense-associated mechanisms. Thus, fruit production was reduced by 31% in the infected plants, highlighting a negative impact of infection on the production potential. These results support management strategies based on the induction of plant defense mechanisms and reinforce the importance of the use of integrative approaches to understanding the physiological and biochemical impacts of viruses on crops.

Naturalists have been fascinated for centuries by animal colors and color patterns. While widely studied at the adult stage, we know little about color patterns in the embryo. Here, we study a trait consisting of coloration that is specific to the embryo and absent from postembryonic stages in water striders (Gerromorpha). By combining developmental genetics with chemical and phylogenetic analyses across a broad sample of species, we uncovered the mechanisms underlying the emergence and diversification of embryonic colors in this group of insects. We show that the pteridine biosynthesis pathway, which ancestrally produces red pigment in the eyes, has been recruited during embryogenesis in various extraocular tissues including antennae and legs. In addition, we discovered that this cooption is common to all water striders and initially resulted in the production of yellow extraocular color. Subsequently, 6 lineages evolved bright red color and 2 lineages lost the color independently. Despite the high diversity in colors and color patterns, we show that the underlying biosynthesis pathway remained stable throughout the 200 million years of Gerromorpha evolutionary time. Finally, we identified erythropterin and xanthopterin as the pigments responsible for these colors in the embryo of various species. These findings demonstrate how traits can emerge through the activation of a biosynthesis pathway in new developmental contexts.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a multifactorial disease that involves environmental factors, genetic factors, and lifestyle factors. Due to the absence of specific and sensitive biomarkers, CRC patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and consequently suffer from a low 5-year overall survival rate. Despite improvements in surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with CRC remains unfavorable due to local and distant metastases. Several studies have shown that small noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs packed in exosomes, are potential biomarkers in various types of cancers, including CRC, and that they can be detected in a stable form in both serum and plasma. In this review, we report the potential of circulating exosomal miRNAs to act as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.

We verified the rapid geographic expansion of Zaprionus tuberculatus throughout Brazil by sampling in the Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Amazon biomes. Approximately 15 000 insects were collected, of which 254 were Z. tuberculatus. We present the first record of this species from the Pantanal, indicating its presence now in all Brazilian biomes. We expanded the known area of occupation of ​​Z. tuberculatus in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga. This species can be found in half of the Brazilian territory after only half a decade of invasion. Verificamos la rápida expansión geográfica de Zaprionus tuberculatus en Brasil mediante muestreos en los biomas de Caatinga, Floresta Atlántica, Pantanal y Floresta Amazónica. Se recolectaron aproximadamente 15 000 insectos, de los cuales 254 fueron Z. tuberculatus. Presentamos el primer registro de esta especie en el Pantanal, indicando su presencia ahora en todos los biomas brasileños. Ampliamos el área conocida de ocupación de Z. tuberculatus en la Floresta Atlántica y en la Caatinga. Esta especie ya se puede encontrar en la mitad del territorio brasileño después de media década de invasión.

IntroductionThe limited understanding of the potential applications of cocoa by-products, due to the scarcity of studies that integrate scientific research and patent analysis, hinders the proper use of these by-products and compromises their role in promoting sustainability in the food industry.MethodologyIn this study, a multidimensional review encompassing scientific and patentometric analyses of cocoa by-products was conducted. Databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline/PubMed) were utilized with search terms (Cocoa* OR Theobroma cacao AND by-product*) to identify scientific articles (144). Additionally, we explored earch databases [Espacenet and National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI)], employing a combination of earch terms and international classification codes (Cocoa* OR Theobroma cacao AND by-product* AND A23G), to identify the generated technologies (73).Results and discussionThe results revealed a significant concentration of scientific research in the agricultural and biological sciences (68%), focusing on the bioactive and biofunctional composition of the cocoa by-products. Additionally, interest in technological innovation related to these by-products was identified, as evidenced by the increased number of patent registrations after 2020. These findings suggest a significant potential for growth in this sector and provide valuable insights for future research and product development within the food industry.

Endometritis is one of the main reproductive disorders in mares and due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of endometritis in mares has gained interest, given their potential to restore and maintain a healthy uterine microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of total metabolites of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) against common equine endometrial pathogenic bacteria in vitro (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli (1), Escherichia coli (2), Escherichia coli (3), Escherichia coli (4), Enterobacter cloacae, Streptococcus equi, Staphylococcus warneri, Actinobacillus equi and Klebesiella pneumoniae), as well as to assess their low molecular weight metabolites (loM) and extracellular vesicle (EVs) inhibition capacity over a multidrug-resistant E. coli isolated from mares with clinical endometritis. The total metabolites of LA showed better inhibition on A. baumannii, E. coli (1) and E. cloacae, while those of LP inhibited E. coli (4), S. equi and A. equi. Besides total metabolites, loM of LA and LP can inhibit E. coli. LA EVs were more effective in preventing E. coli (2) compared to LA loM, while LP EVs presented inhibition but below 90%. The use of LA and LP in the mare's uterus may be an interesting approach to controlling endometritis. In addition to metabolites, EVs can contribute to the inhibition of multidrug-resistant E. coli.

Designing innovative, accurate, universal, and accessible diagnostic tests is mandatory to improve screening, prevention, and management of hepatitis D (HD), especially in endemic areas with poor infrastructure and restricted access to public health care. Recombinant proteins (RP), recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMP), and synthetic peptides have been extensively reported as tools for efficient immunodiagnosis of several diseases. This review aimed to discuss the use of these antigens for the immunodiagnosis of HD. To this end, a bibliographic study was conducted in the PubMed database by searching the primary (“Hepatitis D” and “Hepatitis Delta”), secondary (“Detection”, “Diagno*”, “Diagnosis”, “Immunodiagnosis”, and “Serodiagnosis”), and tertiary (“Chimera”, “Epitope”, “Peptide”; “Protein” and “Recombinant”) descriptors, including papers published up to January 2025. Review articles and case reports were excluded. Only nine articles (five for RP, three for synthetic peptides, and one for RMP) met the inclusion criteria, revealing that there are very few studies on this subject, particularly when compared to the advances made in the diagnosis of hepatitis A, B, and C. Despite the scarcity of articles published in the literature, six of the nine analyzed studies corroborate the potential of these antigens to effectively replace traditional diagnostic methods, including development of rapid tests. These data highlight the need for further studies to assess the potential of RP, RMP, and synthetic peptides for immunodiagnosis of HD, aiming to increase the accuracy of diagnosis, as well as improve monitoring and prevention.

Lead is known as a potent toxicant to human health, particularly for children while their central nervous system is developing. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead exposure in the children’s diet, home, and school environments. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 children aged 1–4 years, in four day care centers (DCCs), where a high prevalence of lead exposure was previously found. Lead determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) was performed for venous blood, drinking water collected in the DCCs, and the 24-h diet ( n  = 64). Environmental screenings were conducted to evaluate lead concentrations in the tableware, buildings, and playground items in all DCCs and children’s homes ( n  = 18) by using a field-portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (FP-XRF). The BLL mean was 2.71 μg dL −1 . Means for 24-h lead concentrations in the diet were 1.61 and 2.24 μg kg −1 of body weight (BW) in two DCCs. Lead concentrations in the water supply were lower than 2 μg L −1 . More than 11% of the DCCs’ environmental analyses presented lead concentrations higher than or equal to 1 mg cm −2 , as defined by the USEPA. The diet was not found to be a risk factor for lead exposure, but households and DCC settings raised concern. Children’s exposure to lead in DCC environments, where they spend the most part of their weekdays, appeared to be relevant. Graphical abstract ᅟ