Biology-Basel最新文献

{"title":"A Comparison of Pollination Efficiency Between Wild Bumble Bees and Introduced Honey Bees on <i>Polygonatum cyrtonema</i>.","authors":"Ju Tang, Xiang-Xiang Ge, Yu-Jie Xu, Yu Zhang, Jian-Wen Shao, Xiao-Hong Li","doi":"10.3390/biology14030276","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To clarify the pollination contributions of introduced honey bees and native wild bees, we compared their pollination efficiency on a perennial herb, <i>Polygonatum cyrtonema</i> Hua. The flower's traits and bees' body traits were measured to quantify the mechanical fit between the bee species and flower. Pollen removal and deposition per visit, visit frequency, and visit duration per flower were investigated. The results show that both native bumble bees (worker bees of <i>Bombus trifasciatus</i> Smith) and introduced honey bees (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) are effective pollinators, but bumble bees play a more important role in pollination, due to their higher visit frequency and slightly higher pollen transfer efficiency. The bumble bees removed and deposited significantly more pollen grains per visit than the honey bees (both <i>p</i> < 0.001). The faster visiting speed and shorter visit duration of the bumble bees, combined with their larger body size and longer proboscises, may have contributed to their higher pollen transfer efficiency. The pollination success of <i>P. cyrtonema</i> depends on its pollinators. This study is the first to report on the pollination efficiency of floral visitors on <i>P. cyrtonema</i>. Our findings highlight the importance of conserving native bumble bee populations to ensure the reproductive success of <i>P. cyrtonema</i>. Future studies should focus on their management to minimize potential disruptions to native pollination contribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711789","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":"The T-DBSCAN Algorithm for Stopover Site Identification of Migration Birds Based on Satellite Positioning Data.","authors":"Xinwu He, Xiqun Liu, Jiajia Liu, Youwen Li, Zhenggang Xu, Ping Mo, Tian Huang","doi":"10.3390/biology14030277","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030277","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the acceleration of social development and urbanization, birds' natural habitats have been greatly disturbed and threatened. Satellite tracking technology can collect much bird activity data, providing important data support for habitat protection research. However, satellite data are usually characterized by discontinuity, extensive periods, and inconsistent frequency, which challenges cluster analysis. Habitat research frequently employs clustering techniques, but conventional clustering algorithms struggle to adjust to these data features, particularly when it comes to time dimension changes and irregular data sampling. T-DBSCAN, an enhanced clustering algorithm, is suggested to accommodate this intricate data need. T-DBSCAN is improved based on the traditional DBSCAN algorithm, which combines a quadtree structure to optimize the efficiency of spatial partitioning and introduces a convex hull algorithmic strategy to perform the boundary identification and clustering processing, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm. T-DBSCAN is made to account efficiently for the uniformity of data sampling and changes in the time dimension. Tests demonstrate that the algorithm outperforms conventional habitat identification accuracy and processing efficiency techniques. It can also manage large amounts of discontinuous satellite tracking data, making it a dependable tool for studying bird habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940076/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711867","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":"Connecting Bone Remodeling and Regeneration: Unraveling Hormones and Signaling Pathways.","authors":"Afshan Mehreen, Muhammad Faisal, Bilal Zulfiqar, Deli Hays, Kavishka Dhananjaya, Faiza Yaseen, Yujun Liang","doi":"10.3390/biology14030274","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent advancements in tissue engineering and stem cell science have positioned bone disease treatment as a promising frontier in regenerative medicine. This review explores the hormonal and signaling pathways critical to bone regeneration, with a focus on their clinical relevance. Key endocrine factors, including thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), play pivotal roles in bone remodeling by regulating osteoblast activity, bone resorption, and mineralization. These factors primarily act through the <i>Wnt</i>/β-catenin, BMP, and FGF signaling pathways, which govern bone repair and regeneration. While animal models, such as axolotls, zebrafish, and <i>Xenopus laevis</i>, provide valuable findings about these mechanisms, translating these findings into human applications presents challenges. This review underscores the therapeutic potential of modulating these hormonal networks to enhance bone regeneration while cautioning against possible adverse effects, such as uncontrolled tissue proliferation or metabolic imbalances. By integrating knowledge from regenerative models, this work provides a foundation for optimizing hormone-based therapies for clinical applications in bone repair and disease treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939909/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143710691","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":"Mandibular-Derived Monocytes from 1-Year-Old Mice Have Enhanced Osteoclast Differentiation and Differentially Regulated Gene Expression Compared to Femur-Derived Monocytes.","authors":"Emilyn D Asinas, Rachel Clark, Jadyn Nelson, Juan E Abrahante Llorens, Kim Mansky, Amy Tasca","doi":"10.3390/biology14030273","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is well established that both men and women lose bone as they age. While recent studies suggest unique molecular signatures of mineral-resorbing cells at different anatomical locations, most studies focus on long bones, and little is known about craniofacial osteoclasts, especially during the aging process. To determine differences between osteoclasts at different skeletal sites, we analyzed the differentiation potential, demineralization activity, and gene expression of osteoclast precursors from 1-year-old male and female C57Bl/6J mice. In our study, we determined that mandibular-derived osteoclasts were larger in size compared to those in the femur but were significantly fewer in number. However, femur-derived osteoclasts demineralized larger and more numerous areas of a calcium phosphate surface compared to mandibular-derived osteoclasts. Bulk RNA sequencing demonstrated that the mandibular-derived monocytes were enriched for genes in the WNT signaling pathway, biomineralization, and osteogenesis pathways, while femur-derived monocytes were enriched for genes in the mitochondrial respiratory complex I. Overall, our data suggest that there are different mechanisms that regulate osteoclasts from different skeletal sites as we age. This information may help to guide the design of treatments to prevent aging-induced bone loss.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711750","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":"The Role of Th17/Treg Axis in Retinal Pathology Associated with Diabetes and Treatment Options.","authors":"Michel-Edwar Mickael, Norwin Kubick, Kreshnik Miftari, Jarosław Olav Horbańczuk, Atanas G Atanasov, Korona Binçe, Piotr Religa, Agnieszka Kamińska, Mariusz Sacharczuk, Michał Ławiński","doi":"10.3390/biology14030275","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes, leading to vision impairment and blindness. The pathogenesis of DR involves multiple factors, including hyperglycemia-induced vascular damage, hypertension, obesity, anemia, immune dysregulation, and disruption of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Th17 and Treg cells, two types of CD4+ T cells, play opposing roles in inflammation. Th17 cells are pro-inflammatory, producing cytokines such as IL-17A, while Treg cells help suppress immune responses and promote anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies highlight the importance of the Th17/Treg balance in retinal inflammation and disease progression in DR. Our literature review reveals an imbalance in DR, with increased Th17 activity and reduced Treg function. This shift creates a pro-inflammatory environment in the retina, worsening vascular leakage, neovascularization, and vision loss. The limited infiltration of Treg cells suggests that Th17 cells may uniquely infiltrate the retina by overwhelming or outnumbering Tregs or increasing the expression of recruiting chemokines, rather than only taking advantage of a damaged BRB. Therapeutic strategies, such as neutralizing IL-17A and enhancing Treg function with compounds like IL-35 or curcumin, may reduce inflammation and retinal damage. Restoring the balance between Th17 and Treg cells could provide new approaches for treating DR by controlling inflammation and preventing further retinal damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711865","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":"Neural Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance in Motor Aging: From Genetic Mechanisms to Therapeutic Challenges.","authors":"Xuhui Chen, Ya Wang, Yongning Zhang, Xucheng Li, Le Zhang, Shangbang Gao, Cuntai Zhang","doi":"10.3390/biology14030272","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neural excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance plays a pivotal role in the aging process. However, despite its significant impact, the role of E/I imbalance in motor dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases has not received sufficient attention. This review explores the mechanisms underlying motor aging through the lens of E/I balance, emphasizing genetic and molecular factors that contribute to this imbalance (such as <i>SCN2A</i>, <i>CACNA1C</i>, <i>GABRB3</i>, <i>GRIN2A</i>, <i>SYT</i>, <i>BDNF</i>…). Key regulatory genes, including <i>REST</i>, <i>vps-34</i>, and <i>STXBP1</i>, are examined for their roles in modulating synaptic activity and neuronal function during aging. With insights drawn from ALS, we discuss how disruptions in E/I balance contribute to the pathophysiology of age-related motor dysfunction. The genes discussed above exhibit a certain association with age-related motor neuron diseases (like ALS), a relationship that had not been previously recognized. Innovative genetic therapies, such as gene editing technology and optogenetic manipulation, are emerging as promising tools for restoring E/I balance, offering hope for ameliorating motor deficits in aging. This review explores the potential of these technologies to intervene in aging-related motor diseases, despite challenges in their direct application to human conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143710692","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":"The Evolution of Nutrient and Microbial Composition and Maturity During the Composting of Different Plant-Derived Wastes.","authors":"Yuxin Xie, Pengbing Wu, Ying Qu, Xingchi Guo, Junyan Zheng, Yuhe Xing, Xu Zhang, Qian Liu","doi":"10.3390/biology14030268","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Composting is an environmentally friendly treatment technology that recycles and sanitizes organic solid waste. This study aimed to assess the evolution of nutrients, maturity, and microbial communities during the composting of different plant-derived wastes. The composting process was conducted over 49 days using three types of plant-derived waste: wheat bran (WB), peanut straw (PS), and poplar leaf litter (PL). This process was examined through physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The results revealed that after 49 days of composting, the three groups experienced significant changes. They were odorless, were insect-free, exhibited a dark brown color, had an alkaline pH value, and had an electrical conductivity (EC) value of less than 4 mS/cm. These characteristics indicated that they had reached maturity. Nutrient content was the most significant factor influencing the degree of humification of the different composting materials, while changes in microbial community diversity were the key driving factors. Significantly, the compost PS, derived from peanut straw, entered the thermophilic phase first, and by the end of composting, it had the lowest organic matter (OM) loss rate (17.4%), with increases in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) in the order of PS > PL > WB. The increase in humus carbon (HSC) content and the humic acid/fulvic acid (HA/FA) ratio followed the order PS > WB > PL. FTIR spectra indicated that PS had greater aromatic characteristics compared to the other samples. The abundance and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in the compost increased significantly, accompanied by more complex community structures. Crucially, there were no phytotoxic effects in any of the three composting treatments, and the compost PS boasted a high germination index (GI) of 94.79%, with the lowest heavy metal contents. The findings indicate that the compost PS has the highest potential for resource utilization and is suitable for agricultural applications. Our results demonstrate that composting technology for plant-derived waste has the potential to enhance soil fertility and provide a reference for the composting treatment and resource utilization of other plant-derived waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711860","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 Preclinical Model to Assess Intestinal Barrier Integrity Using Canine Enteroids and Colonoids.","authors":"Megan P Corbett, Vojtech Gabriel, Vanessa Livania, David Díaz-Regañón, Abigail Ralston, Christopher Zdyrski, Dongjie Liu, Sarah Minkler, Hannah Wickham, Addison Lincoln, Karel Paukner, Todd Atherly, Maria M Merodio, Dipak Kumar Sahoo, David K Meyerholz, Karin Allenspach, Jonathan P Mochel","doi":"10.3390/biology14030270","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, such as Caco-2 and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells are widely used in a variety of biological models, these two-dimensional in vitro systems present inherent limitations in replicating the complexities of in vivo biology. Recent progress in three-dimensional organoid technology has the potential to address these limitations. In this study, the characteristics of conventional 2D cell culture systems were compared to those of canine intestinal organoids (enteroids, ENT, and colonoids, COL). Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were employed to evaluate the microanatomy of ENT, COL, Caco-2, and MDCK cell monolayers, while transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values were measured to assess monolayer integrity. The TEER values of canine ENT monolayers more closely approximated reported TEER values for human small intestines compared to Caco-2 and MDCK monolayers. Additionally, canine ENT demonstrated greater monolayer stability than Caco-2 and MDCK cells. Notably, while all systems displayed desmosomes, canine ENT and COL exclusively produced mucus. These findings highlight the potential of the canine organoid system as a more biologically relevant model for in vitro studies, addressing the limitations of conventional 2D cell culture systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939752/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711723","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":"First Report of the Genus <i>Quinquelaophonte</i> Wells, Hicks and Coull, 1982 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Laophontidae) from China, with Description of a New Species.","authors":"Zhengcun Hou, Qi Kou, Lin Ma","doi":"10.3390/biology14030271","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The diversity of the species-rich copepod family Laophontidae T. Scott, 1905, is rarely investigated in China. Based on the recent collections from the coasts of the Yellow Sea in Shandong, two species of the genus <i>Quinquelaophonte</i> Wells, Hicks and Coull, 1982 were first reported from China, with one identified as new. The new species, <i>Quinquelaophonte xinzhengi</i> sp. nov., differs from other congeners by the following characteristics: female caudal ramus about 3.2 times as long as maximum width; P1 enp-2 bearing one claw and one minute seta; female P3 exp-3 with two inner setae, male P3 exp-3 with one inner seta; P4 exp-3 with one inner seta; and female P5 exopod bearing six setae. The COI genetic divergences between the new species and three closely related congeneric species all exceed 20% (21.5-22.3%), supporting their separate species status. Our samples of <i>Q. enormis</i> Kim, Nam and Lee, 2020, which are first found in China, show subtle differences with the original description of the type specimens from Korea on basis of maxilliped and P2 enp-1 with cuticular bulge subapically, female P3 and P4 without conspicuous morphological variation. This is also the first report of <i>Quinquelaophonte</i> from the China Seas.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940388/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711765","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":"Caco2/HT-29 In Vitro Cell Co-Culture: Barrier Integrity, Permeability, and Tight Junctions' Composition During Progressive Passages of Parental Cells.","authors":"Elena Donetti, Paola Bendinelli, Margherita Correnti, Elena Gammella, Stefania Recalcati, Anita Ferraretto","doi":"10.3390/biology14030267","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biology14030267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epithelial linings are crucial for the maintenance of physiological barriers. The intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) consists of enterocytes through tight junctions and mucus-secreting cells and can undergo physiological modifications throughout life. To reproduce as closely as possible the IEB main features over time, in vitro co-cultures of Caco2/HT-29 70/30 formed by parental Caco2 and HT-29 cells sub-cultivated for more than 40 passages were set up. The measurements of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) identified two populations: physiological TEER co-cultures (PC) with values > 50 Ωcm² formed by parental cells with fewer than 40 passages, and leaky TEER co-cultures (LC) with values < 50 Ωcm² formed by parental cells with more than 40 passages. In LC, paracellular permeability increased in parallel. By immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis, an increase in claudin 2 was observed in LC vs. PC, with no differences in occludin expression. MUC-2 immunoreactivity was stronger in PC than in LC. LC also showed an enhanced vulnerability to TNFα+IFN-γ. These results reproduce the main morpho-functional modifications reported in the human leaky/aged gut and support the usefulness of our in vitro cell model for studying the molecular processes underlying these modifications and testing drug/nutraceutical treatments to ameliorate leaky gut aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":48624,"journal":{"name":"Biology-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939685/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711818","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}