Biology-Basel最新文献

{"title":"Multi-Omic Advances in Olive Tree (<i>Olea europaea</i> subsp. <i>europaea</i> L.) Under Salinity: Stepping Towards 'Smart Oliviculture'.","authors":"Manuel Gonzalo Claros, Amanda Bullones, Antonio Jesús Castro, Elena Lima-Cabello, María Ángeles Viruel, María Fernanda Suárez, Remedios Romero-Aranda, Noé Fernández-Pozo, Francisco J Veredas, Andrés Belver, Juan de Dios Alché","doi":"10.3390/biology14030287","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil salinisation is threatening crop sustainability worldwide, mainly due to anthropogenic climate change. Molecular mechanisms developed to counteract salinity have been intensely studied in model plants. Nevertheless, the economically relevant olive tree (<i>Olea europaea</i> subsp. <i>europaea</i> L.), being highly exposed to soil salinisation, deserves a specific review to extract the recent genomic advances that support the known morphological and biochemical mechanisms that make it a relative salt-tolerant crop. A comprehensive list of 98 olive cultivars classified by salt tolerance is provided, together with the list of available olive tree genomes and genes known to be involved in salt response. Na⁺ and Cl^- exclusion in leaves and retention in roots seem to be the most prominent adaptations, but cell wall thickening and antioxidant changes are also required for a tolerant response. Several post-translational modifications of proteins are emerging as key factors, together with microbiota amendments, making treatments with biostimulants and chemical compounds a promising approach to enable cultivation in already salinised soils. Low and high-throughput transcriptomics and metagenomics results obtained from salt-sensitive and -tolerant cultivars, and the future advantages of engineering specific metacaspases involved in programmed cell death and autophagy pathways to rapidly raise salt-tolerant cultivars or rootstocks are also discussed. The overview of bioinformatic tools focused on olive tree, combined with machine learning approaches for studying plant stress from a multi-omics perspective, indicates that the development of salt-tolerant cultivars or rootstocks adapted to soil salinisation is progressing. This could pave the way for 'smart oliviculture', promoting more productive and sustainable practices under salt stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939856/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics of Fungal Communities in Red Mud/Phosphogypsum-Based Artificial Soils.","authors":"Yong Liu, Zhi Yang, Lishuai Zhang, Fang Deng, Zhiqiang Zhao, Binbin Xue, Jingfu Wang","doi":"10.3390/biology14030285","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Red mud and phosphogypsum are two typical industrial by-products. The preparation of red mud/phosphogypsum-based artificial soils offers a promising novel solution to the efficient synergistic disposal of them. Fungi, as key drivers, can promote the continuous development and ecological improvement of artificial soils. This study is first to report the characteristics of fungal communities in three artificial soils after one year of incubation. The preliminary formation of fungal communities (with relatively low diversity) resulted in a total of 3 fungal phyla, 81 fungal genera, and 144 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in artificial soils. Ascomycota was the dominant fungal phylum in each artificial soil (>99.5%), and the high-abundance fungal genera included <i>Unclassified_c_Sordariomycetes</i>, <i>Unclassified_o_Sordariales</i>, <i>Emericellopsis</i>, <i>Kernia</i>, <i>Unclassified_f_Nectriaceae</i>, <i>Ramophialophora</i>, <i>Schizothecium</i>, and <i>Iodophanus</i>. There were significant differences among the three artificial soils in the compositions of fungal genera, which affected material cycling, ecological succession, and soil development and maturation to varying extents. According to the FUNGuild prediction of fungal communities, saprotrophic fungi (such as undefined saprotroph, dung saprotroph-undefined saprotroph, and dung saprotroph) played dominant roles in promoting the degradation and humification of organic matter and the cycling of carbon in artificial soils. Fungal communities in the three artificial soils had strong correlations with many environmental factors (such as pH, organic matter, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, sucrase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase), indicating significant interactions between them. This is not only conducive to the continuous optimization of the structure of fungal communities in artificial soils but also promotes the balanced and homogeneous distribution of various substances, promoting continuous soil development and maturation and gradual improvement in its ecological functions. This study provides an important scientific basis for clarifying the mechanisms of mycogenesis during the continuous development and maturation of artificial soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A PRISMA Systematic Review of Sexual Dysfunction and Probiotics with Pathophysiological Mechanisms.","authors":"Su-Jin Yang, Trang Thi Minh Nguyen, Xiangji Jin, Qiwen Zheng, Se-Jig Park, Gyeong-Seon Yi, Tae-Hoo Yi","doi":"10.3390/biology14030286","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual dysfunction, influenced by hormonal imbalances, psychological factors, and chronic diseases, affects a significant portion of the population. Probiotics, known for their beneficial effects on gut microbiota, have emerged as potential therapeutic agents for improving sexual health. This systematic review evaluates the impact of probiotics on sexual function, hormonal regulation, and reproductive outcomes. A comprehensive search identified 3308 studies, with 12 meeting the inclusion criteria-comprising 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 2 in vivo and in vitro studies. Probiotic interventions were shown to significantly improve sexual function, particularly in women undergoing antidepressant therapy (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significant improvements in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores were observed, with combined treatments such as Lactofem with Letrozole and Lactofem with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) demonstrating a 10% biochemical and clinical pregnancy rate compared to 0% in the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.05). Probiotic use was also associated with a 66% reduction in menopausal symptoms, increased sperm motility (36.08%), viability (46.79%), and morphology (36.47%). Probiotics also contributed to favorable hormonal changes, including a reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio (from 3.0 to 2.5, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and increased testosterone levels. Regarding reproductive outcomes, probiotic use was associated with higher pregnancy rates in women undergoing fertility treatments and improvements in sperm motility, viability, and morphology in men. This review highlights the promising role of probiotics in addressing sexual dysfunction and reproductive health, suggesting their potential as adjunctive treatments for conditions such as depression and infertility. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these beneficial effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reducing Risks to Native Pollinators by Introduced Bees: A Review of Canada's Legislation with Recommendations for Yukon Territory.","authors":"Maria Leung, Donald Reid","doi":"10.3390/biology14030282","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Imported, non-native honey bees and bumble bees threaten native pollinators by spreading pathogens (disease and parasites) and outcompeting native pollinators for nectar and pollen. We reviewed Canadian federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal legislation to find governance requirements that potentially reduce these threats. We classified the requirements as follows: tracking the number and location of honey bee hives (registry); controlling the spread of pathogens (registry with inspections, quarantines, and cleaning regimes); controlling the competition with native pollinators (limiting shared use of space); and making regulations applicable to all domesticated bees in addition to honey bees. Policies and regulations to control the competition from honey bees are generally lacking. So, we propose the concept of \"foraging leases\" to manage the location and duration of honey bee apiaries on public lands. Based on the identified requirements, we recommend amendments to the legislation in Yukon Territory, a jurisdiction that still has healthy native pollinator communities that pollinate various human food and medicine crops. Recommendations include tracking hives and their pathogen status with beekeeping regulations enabled by the Animal Health Act, controlling the use of imported bumble bees with changes to the Animal Protection and Control Act and/or the Wildlife Act, and restricting use of public lands for apiaries with the Public Lands Act.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>K</i>-Volume Clustering Algorithms for scRNA-Seq Data Analysis.","authors":"Yong Chen, Fei Li","doi":"10.3390/biology14030283","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Clustering high-dimensional and structural data remains a key challenge in computational biology, especially for complex single-cell and multi-omics datasets. In this study, we present <i>K</i>-volume clustering, a novel algorithm that uses the total convex volume defined by points within a cluster as a biologically relevant and geometrically interpretable criterion. This method simultaneously optimizes both the hierarchical structure and the number of clusters at each level through nonlinear optimization. Validation on real datasets shows that <i>K</i>-volume clustering outperforms traditional methods across a range of biological applications. With its theoretical foundation and broad applicability, <i>K</i>-volume clustering holds great promise as a core tool for diverse data analysis tasks.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterizing the Role of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam (MO) Leaves and Root Extracts on <i>Dictyostelium discoideum</i> Cell Behavior.","authors":"Sarah Abdulaziz Alamer, Fadia El Sherif","doi":"10.3390/biology14030284","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030284","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam (MO) is a member of the Moringaceae family and has been widely used as a traditional form of treatment for various diseases due to its high nutrient content. The plant is rich in vitamins, minerals, organic acids, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids. However, the concentrations of these components in each part of the plant differ, leading to specific beneficial uses. In this study, we aimed to analyze the contents of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf (ML) and <i>Moringa oleifera</i> root (MR) extracts and characterize the effects of these extracts on cell behavior. HPLC analysis data showed a higher level of flavonoids and apigenin in the ML extract compared to the MR extract. Furthermore, CG/MS analysis revealed 54 components in the ML extract, with only 3 (ethyl palmitate, ethyl linolenate, and palmitic acid, 2-(octadecyloxy)ethyl ester) of them being at high levels. In this study, <i>Dictyostelium discoideum</i> was used as a cellular model and <i>D. discoideum</i>'s cell growth, chemotaxis, and development life cycle were investigated. The data presented herein demonstrate a significant decrease in cell growth and that the completion of the development life cycle was delayed in the ML extract-treated sample. This effect was not found in the untreated cells and MR extract-treated samples. In addition, the ability of cells to stream during chemotaxis was not inhibited following treatments. These findings suggested that ML extract has an impact on cell proliferation and cell directed migration processes, where the high level of flavonoids and apigenin in this extract can be a strong factor that led to these results.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940813/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RGF Gene Family Analysis and Functional Evidence for RGF8-Mediated Salt Stress Tolerance in Brassica Species.","authors":"Shi-Wei Wang, Fan-Li Zhang, Ru-Yu Jiao, Fan-Xuan Nie, Yi-Lin Zhu, Xi-Jin Huang, Wen-Qing Tan, Qian Yang, Xin-Hong Liu, Li-Li Liu, Duo-Yan Rong, Zhi-Xiang Liu, Qi-Jun Xie","doi":"10.3390/biology14030281","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030281","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Brassica napus</i> L. is a vital oil crop and exhibits notable salt tolerance, making the enhancement of this trait crucial for cultivation in saline soils. Uncovering its underlying mechanism may further heighten the salt tolerance of <i>B. napus</i>. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the <i>Root Meristem Growth Factor</i> (RGF) gene family in <i>Brassica</i> species and identified <i>BnaRGF8</i> as a key regulator of salt tolerance. Under 200 mM NaCl treatment, all RGF genes were induced, with <i>BnaRGF8</i> showing the greatest upregulation. This response was consistently observed across 10 genotypes, indicating a universal trend in <i>B. napus</i>. Functional characterization revealed that chemically synthesized <i>BnaRGF8</i> alleviated salt-induced growth inhibition by restoring primary root elongation and lateral root formation. Additionally, <i>BnaRGF8</i> preserved membrane integrity and maintained cell division under salt stress, establishing itself as a novel anti-salt peptide in <i>B. napus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the Potential of Vitamin D: A Comprehensive Exploration of Its Role in Neurological Health and Diseases.","authors":"Rehana Khatoon","doi":"10.3390/biology14030280","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030280","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vitamin D (VD), an indispensable micronutrient renowned for its pivotal role in bone health, is increasingly recognized as a frontline therapy for bone-related disorders owing to its involvement in maintaining calcium/phosphorus levels. Beyond these benefits, VD exhibits a modulatory impact on redox imbalance, inflammation, and anti-apoptotic pathways implicated in brain-related disorders. Recent findings reveal a notable decrease in VD and its receptor expression in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with brain diseases, indicating a positive association between VD levels and normal brain function. Moreover, emerging reports underscore VD's potential in mitigating the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including memory and motor impairments, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuronal loss. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies elucidate VD's multifaceted neuroprotective mechanisms, effectively mitigating neuronal damage and ATP deprivation, thus reducing mortality and morbidity. This review comprehensively examines VD's diverse attributes, encompassing antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurogenic effects. It provides contemporary insights into VD's efficacious actions at appropriate doses and exposures across diverse neurological experimental models. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of VD in treating patients with neurological diseases is explored. Overall, this review contributes to the exploration of potential neuroprotective agents and holds promise for improving human health outcomes in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitochondrial Proteome Reveals Metabolic Tuning by Restricted Insulin Signaling to Promote Longevity in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.","authors":"Xuanxuan Guo, Jiuwei Lu, Long Miao, Enzhi Shen","doi":"10.3390/biology14030279","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030279","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aging is a time-dependent process of functional decline influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Age-related mitochondrial changes remain incompletely understood. Here, we found that compared to the wild type, the mitochondria of long-lived <i>daf-2 C. elegans</i> maintain youthful morphology and function. Through quantitative proteomic analysis on isolated mitochondria, we identified 257 differentially expressed candidates. Analysis of these changed mitochondrial proteins reveals a significant upregulation of five key mitochondrial metabolic pathways in <i>daf-2</i> mutants, including branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), propionate, β-alanine, and fatty acids (FA), all of which are related to <i>daf-2</i>-mediated longevity. In addition, mitochondrial ribosome protein abundance slightly decreased in <i>daf-2</i> mutants. A mild reduction in mitochondrial elongation factor G (<i>gfm-1</i>) by RNAi extends the lifespan of wild type while decreasing lipid metabolic process and cytoplasmic fatty acid metabolism, suggesting that proper inhibition of mitochondrial translation activity might be important for lifespan extension. Overall, our findings indicate that mitochondrial metabolic modulation contributes to the longevity of <i>daf-2</i> mutants and further highlights the crucial role of mitochondria in aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy.","authors":"Davide Lapolla, Luca Canovi, Maria Letizia Berloni, Veronica Amantea, Cristina Balla, Federico Marchini, Evelina Faragasso, Matteo Bertini, Elisabetta Tonet","doi":"10.3390/biology14030278","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart disease characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the ventricular myocardium, with an estimated prevalence of 1:5000 people in the general population. Sudden cardiac death is the first manifestation of this disease in 16-23% of patients with ACM. Fibrofatty infiltration can be identified with noninvasive cardiac magnetic resonance. Studies of epicardial fat deposits have suggested pathogenic roles of epicardial fats in mediating cardiac diseases and arrhythmias. Although myocardial fat infiltration has been well described in ACM, changes in epicardial fat deposits with this disease have not been well investigated. Our study shows that patients with ACM have a higher amount of EAT compared to controls. Additionally, the EAT amount seems to increase with the evolution of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}