Biometals最新文献

{"title":"Engineering the gut microbiome with metal-resistant bacteria could protect Artemia nauplii from cadmium toxicity.","authors":"Silpa Chandran, M K Fathima Ramseena, Anas Abdulaziz","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00897-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00897-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metal pollution and emerging contaminants, such as metal nanoparticles, are increasingly found in estuarine and coastal environments. These pollutants pose significant risks to aquatic life and human health and may affect food security. This study evaluates host-associated microbiome engineering as a biological method to reduce cadmium toxicity in an aquatic invertebrate model. We designed a consortium of metal-resistant bacteria through systematic screening and exclusion of isolates from various marine ecosystems. This process resulted in a functionally compatible consortium comprising Bacillus altitudinis, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Bacillus cereus and Weissella cibaria. The consortium members tolerated up to 1 mM CdCl₂ independent of active efflux mechanisms, bile salts, and gastric juices, and formed stable biofilms. The strains did not display antagonistic behaviour towards each other and effectively inhibited pathogenic Vibrio spp. from both environmental and clinical sources. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analyses confirmed the maintenance of cell wall integrity under cadmium stress and the presence of bioaccumulation factors greater than one. Artemia nauplii pre-colonized with the bacterial consortium demonstrated a 33.6% increase in survival during acute (1.5 mM) cadmium exposure compared to untreated controls. These findings suggest that microbiome-based interventions can enhance host tolerance to metal pollution and represent a promising biological approach to mitigating the ecological impacts of metal contamination in aquatic environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicogenetic profiling of an antifungal lawsone silver salt: in silico and in vitro analysis in 2D and 3D mammalian models.","authors":"Bárbara Verena Dias Galvão, Letícia Mota Candal de Matos, Alana da Cunha Goldstein, Luana P Borba-Santos, Nathália Pinheiro Dos Santos, Caroline Deckmann Nicoletti, Wanderley de Souza, Vitor Francisco Ferreira, Debora Omena Futuro, Sonia Rozental, Carlos Fernando Araujo-Lima, Israel Felzenszwalb","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00900-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00900-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of novel metal-based antifungals requires rigorous characterization of their toxicological mechanisms to ensure patient safety. This study investigated the toxicogenetic profile and cellular interactions of lawsone silver salt (LSS), a compound with established activity against Sporothrix spp. and emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens. Antifungal efficacy was confirmed against planktonic Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, and C. auris (MIC 1.45-23.2 µM), with significant anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans (185.9 µM) and A. fumigatus (92.9 µM). In silico ADMET modeling predicted high oral bioavailability and blood-brain barrier permeability, despite the genotoxicity alerts. Experimentally, LSS (0.005-50 µg/plate) was non-mutagenic in the Salmonella/microsome assay (TA1535, TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA102), regardless of the metabolic activation. However, LSS (0.5-500 µM) induced significant genomic instability in HepG2 cells. The micronucleus assay revealed a dose-dependent increase in micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds, indicating clastogenic and aneugenic effects. Comparative cytotoxicity was evaluated in BALB/3T3 fibroblasts using 2D monolayers and scaffold-based 3D models (0.005-5000 µM). In 2D cultures, LSS exhibited potent cytotoxicity (CC₅₀: 2.7-19.9 µM). Crucially, the 3D microenvironment significantly attenuated these effects (CC₅₀: 1,797-1,919 µM), suggesting a markedly higher safety margin in physiologically relevant tissue architectures. These findings demonstrate that while LSS induces chromosomal damage in human cells, its toxicity is fundamentally modulated by cellular organization, providing essential data for risk assessment and therapeutic optimization of naphthoquinone derivatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dodonaea viscosa-derived gold nanoparticles exhibit differential effects across breast cell models and intracellular localisation in MDA-MB-231 cells.","authors":"Nireshini Reddy, Willem Jacobus Perold, Sanjeev Rambharose, Anna-Mart Engelbrecht","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00896-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00896-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer remains a major malignancy, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) representing an aggressive subtype with limited therapeutic options. This study investigated the synthesis, physicochemical properties, and biological activity of Dodonaea viscosa-derived gold nanoparticles (DV-AuNPs). Synthesis was optimised for reaction temperature, extract concentration, and extract-to-gold chloride ratio. DV-AuNPs were characterised using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscopy, and their colloidal stability was assessed in biologically relevant media over two weeks. The nanoparticles were predominantly spherical (19.6 ± 3.6 nm) and exhibited surface functionalisation with plant-derived compounds. Cellular metabolic activity/viability assessment revealed differential responses across breast-cell models: MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated concentration-dependent sensitivity to DV-AuNP exposure, whereas MCF-7 and non-tumorigenic MCF-12A cells were comparatively less responsive under the tested conditions. In MDA-MB-231 cells, DV-AuNP treatment markedly suppressed clonogenic capacity, while functional assays revealed limited effects on migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated intracellular localisation of electron-dense particles consistent with DV-AuNPs. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first integrated evaluation of DV-AuNPs in a TNBC model encompassing physicochemical characterisation, colloidal stability, differential cellular responses, clonogenic capacity, migration, EMT-associated proteins, and intracellular localisation. Altogether, these findings demonstrate cell-line-dependent biological responses to DV-AuNPs and support their continued investigation as biologically functionalised gold nanoparticles for breast-cancer applications. Further studies are required to define the underlying mechanisms and evaluate activity across additional TNBC models.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149178674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elemental analysis in menstrual effluent of women with PCOS: association with oxidative stress mechanisms: a case-control study.","authors":"Aparna Eledath Kolasseri, Ramasamy Tamizhselvi, Sivaraman Jayanthi","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00898-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00898-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Metal ions can disrupt antioxidant defenses, alter the endometrial environment, and contribute to its pathophysiology. To compare element levels in menstrual effluent (ME) between women with PCOS and healthy controls, and to assess their association with antioxidant defence mechanisms, a case-control study was conducted among women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. ME was collected and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elements. Antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), non-enzymatic antioxidants glutathione (GSH), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), oxidative stress markers lipid peroxidase (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in the ME-derived erythrocytes. Significant differences were observed in Boron (B), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Nickel (Ni), Phosphorus (P), and Zinc (Zn) in the ME of PCOS women compared to healthy controls. Elevated CAT, SOD and GPx correlated with elements like Mn, Cu, and Zn. LPO, NO, and MPO were correlated with Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu and Mn. GSH and H₂S levels decreased in women with PCOS, correlating with elements such as B, Ba, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn. Common proteins were found between metal-interacting and PCOS-related genes, implicating the role of elements in oxidative pathways. ME-based metal profiling offers a non-invasive approach for the early detection of oxidative stress-related inflammation in PCOS, with implications for cancer risk monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149178672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative biosorption of hexavalent chromium by Enterobacter sp. Z11 and Bacillus sp. S7: Isotherm, kinetic, and mechanistic insights.","authors":"Sedky H A Hassan, Mohammad Tariq Ali Khan, Bahja Al Riyami, Raeid M M Abed","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00892-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00892-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compares the hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] biosorption capacities of dried biomass from a Gram-negative bacterium (Enterobacter sp. Z11) and a Gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus sp. S7), given their inherent differences in their cell wall structure. The effects of pH, biomass dosage, contact time, and initial metal concentration were systematically examined. Both biomasses exhibited maximum Cr(VI) removal at pH 1.0, achieving removal efficiencies of 94% for Enterobacter sp. Z11 and 93.3% for Bacillus sp. S7 at an initial concentration of 200 mg/L. Biosorption equilibrium was achieved within 120 min, characterized by a rapid initial uptake followed by a slower diffusion-controlled phase. Increasing biomass dosage reduced biosorption capacity per gram due to aggregation of active sites and decreased surface availability. Isotherm studies revealed that the Freundlich and Temkin models provided the best fit, indicating multilayer biosorption on heterogeneous surfaces and suggesting that chemisorption-type interactions may contribute to the dominant mechanism. Fitting the full equilibrium dataset to the Langmuir model gave a theoretical maximum binding capacity for Enterobacter sp. Z11 (303 mg/g) and Bacillus sp. S7 (50 mg/g), notably higher than the capacity measured a single optimized concentration. Kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.999), consistent with, though not proof of, chemically driven interactions. SEM-EDX and elemental mapping confirmed surface-localized Cr accumulation, with the involvement of hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, phosphate, and carbonyl functional groups as revealed by FTIR. Overall, the results demonstrated that the biosorption performance of the Gram-negative Enterobacter sp. Z11 was significantly superior to that of the Gram-positive Bacillus sp. S7, indicating that Enterobacter sp. Z11 is a highly promising and efficient biosorbent for high efficiency Cr(VI) removal in sustainable bioremediation applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149102450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional characterization of a novel ZIP8 variant causing impaired manganese homeostasis and congenital disorders of glycosylation.","authors":"Hitomi Fujishiro, Naoya Morisada, Nao Mitani, Rina Nakayama, Natsuki Goto, Yukina Nishito, Taiho Kambe, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yoshinao Wada, Yusuke Ishida, Hisato Suzuki, Kandai Nozu, Kenjiro Kosaki, Seiichiro Himeno, Daigo Sumi","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00862-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10534-026-00862-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ZIP8, encoded by SLC39A8, mediates cellular uptake of divalent metal ions, including manganese (Mn). Mutations in SLC39A8 cause a congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) associated with Mn deficiency (SLC39A8-CDG). Here, we report a novel case of SLC39A8-CDG harboring a previously unreported mutation (p.F206I) in the transmembrane domain 3 (TMD3). The patient showed markedly low serum Mn levels and abnormal glycosylation. To evaluate the functional consequences of this variant, we generated cells expressing hZIP8-F206I. Mn, cadmium, and zinc uptake levels in cells expressing hZIP8-F206I were approximately half of those in cells expressing wild-type hZIP8. The mutant hZIP8 also showed reduced plasma membrane localization. These findings suggest that this previously unreported mutation in TMD3 significantly impairs ZIP8-mediated metal transport, leading to CDG.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":"2205-2217"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148547575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of elemental-based formulation on grain trace elements, amino acid profiles, antioxidant enzyme activities, gene expression and arsenic uptake in soil-grown rice under arsenic stress.","authors":"Amit Kumar, Kiran Gupta, Mohammad Israil Ansari, Kumud Kant Awasthi, R D Tripathi, Garima Awasthi","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00894-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00894-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the potential of a selenium containing elemental-based formulation (EBF) to reduce arsenic (As) stress in soil-grown rice, with an emphasis on its effects on grain trace element concentration, amino acid profiles, antioxidant enzyme activities, and gene expression. In addition to changes in amino acid content and stress-related gene expression, rice plants exposed to arsenic showed notable decreases in antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, GPX, and CAT) and critical minerals (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu). Increased mineral recovery (29-37%), increased antioxidant enzyme activity (up to 32%), and modification of amino acid and gene expression patterns linked to stress reduction were all significantly improved by EBF supplementation. These results imply that by reestablishing the balance of minerals and nutrients, strengthening antioxidant defense systems, and controlling molecular reactions, EBF can successfully increase rice's resistance to arsenic poisoning. With important ramifications for food safety and crop management in arsenic-affected areas, this research offers a viable method for lowering arsenic buildup in rice grains and increasing crop output under polluted settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149079137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective role of probiotics or Spirulina platensis supplementation against mercury-induced hematological, histopathological, and antioxidant-immune gene dysregulation in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).","authors":"Nusrat Jahan Rimi, Purnima Rani Debi, Most Nafisha Rayhana Munia, Md Abu Rahad, Sadia Afrin Tania, Md Mahiuddin Zahangir, Md Shahjahan","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00873-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00873-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mercury (Hg) contamination in the aquatic environment poses serious ecological and food safety concern due to its non-degradability, persistence, and bioaccumulation in fish tissues, particularly in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a widely farmed species. This study evaluated the efficacy of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and L. buchneri) and dietary Spirulina platensis supplementation on Hg-induced toxicity and associated damage in Nile tilapia, particularly regarding hematological alterations, gill histopathology and antioxidant-immune gene regulation. A total of 250 monosex tilapia (10.74 ± 1.23 g; 8.93 ± 0.43 cm) were allocated into four groups: control (T1), Hg-exposed (0.03 mg L⁻¹; T2), Hg + probiotics (0.03 mg L⁻¹ + 1.0 mL L⁻¹; T3), and Hg + S. platensis (0.03 mg L⁻¹ + 50 g kg⁻¹ diet; T4) each maintained in triplicate tanks (n = 20 per tank) for 42 days. Hg exposure (T2) significantly altered hematological indices and increased the frequency of erythrocytic cellular (twin, elongated, spindle) and nuclear (notched nuclei, nuclear bridge, nuclear bud) abnormalities. Additionally, gill of Hg-exposed fish exhibited severe degeneration, hypertrophy, and hyperplasia in both primary and secondary lamellae. At the molecular level, the T2 group showed a significant upregulation in the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) (p < 0.05), alongside a significant downregulation in the mRNA levels of immune-related cytokine genes (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), compared with the control group. Supplementation with water additives probiotics and dietary S. platensis remarkably restored hematobiochemical parameters (glucose and hemoglobin), reduced erythrocytic anomalies, alleviated gill tissue deformities, and restored antioxidant and immune gene expression toward control levels. Collectively, this study demonstrates that probiotics or S. platensis effectively counteract Hg-induced hematological, histopathological, and molecular stress in Nile tilapia, underscoring their potential as sustainable dietary interventions to enhance fish health and aquaculture productivity under heavy metal exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Teeth as bioarchives of metallic trace elements: a systematic review.","authors":"Anissa Zergui, Bilel Chefirat","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00893-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00893-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Teeth serve as durable, incremental biological repositories that archive environmental and physiological exposures during development. This systematic review evaluates the capacity of dental matrices to function as chronological bioarchives of metallic trace elements and minerals. A systematic search of Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify original research quantifying trace elements in teeth using advanced analytical techniques. Nineteen eligible studies were identified. The reviewed literature suggests that heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, are sequestered within dental hard tissues, potentially preserving high-resolution timelines of prenatal and early-life exposures. Data from the included studies showed that dental concentrations of essential elements, like zinc and copper, fluctuated in correlation with nutritional variations and developmental shifts, while spatial distributions of barium and strontium explicitly mapped early-life dietary transitions, including the onset of weaning. Additionally, localized variations in uranium isotopes successfully identified environmental and anthropogenic radiological exposures. Teeth show potential as non-invasive bioarchives that offer a unique retrospective timeline of cumulative element exposure. However, their widespread implementation requires the establishment of harmonized sampling protocols and extensive validation studies to resolve biological and environmental confounding variables before routine clinical or forensic application can be realized.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149036000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Duration-dependent mild heat stress attenuates mercury-induced Neuroreproductive and oxidative toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster via hormetic mechanisms.","authors":"Oluwasegun Davis Olatomide, Moses Agbomhere Hamed, Tolulope Timothy Arogundade, Francis Olamilekan Ajayi, Kelechi Emmanuella Adeyemo, Ibukun Rebecca Bailey, Oluwanifemi Olasunkanmi Omodara, Deborah Damilola Johnson-Dedeigbo, Paul Chibuike Emegoako, Oluwaseun Samuel Karunwi, Dayo Rotimi Omotoso","doi":"10.1007/s10534-026-00887-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-026-00887-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that interferes with neurological and reproductive functions through oxidative stress, inflammation, and genomic instability. Although mild heat stress can induce hormesis to combat environmental insults, the ability of heat stress to ameliorate heavy-metal-induced toxicity and the importance of exposure duration remain poorly defined. This study investigated whether short-term thermal stress modulates mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) toxicity in D. melanogaster. Adult flies were exposed to HgCl₂ (10 mM) alone or concurrently with mild heat stress (37 °C) for 5 or 15 min. Survival, locomotor performance, reproductive fitness, redox homeostasis, membrane ATPase activities, nitric oxide levels, dopamine content, DNA fragmentation, and brain histoarchitecture were assessed. HgCl₂ exposure significantly reduced survival, locomotor activity, fecundity, antioxidant capacity, ATPase activities, and dopamine levels, while increasing oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide production, DNA fragmentation, and neurodegenerative changes in the brain. Co-exposure to 5 min of heat stress markedly attenuated HgCl₂-induced toxicity, improving survival, neuromuscular performance, reproductive output, redox balance, dopamine levels, and brain cytoarchitecture. In contrast, 15 min of heat stress provided limited attenuation and, when applied independently, induced mild toxicity at several endpoints. Protective effects were accompanied by partial restoration of thiol status, suppression of xanthine oxidase activity, normalisation of nitric oxide levels, preservation of Na⁺/K⁺- and Ca²⁺-ATPase activities, and reduced genomic DNA fragmentation. These findings demonstrate a duration-dependent hormetic interaction between thermal stress and HgCl₂ toxicity, wherein brief heat exposure confers multisystem protection, whereas prolonged exposure negates this benefit. The study highlights the importance of precise stress calibration and supports mild, non-pharmacological interventions as potential modulators of heavy metal toxicity, with relevance for environmentally exposed populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":491,"journal":{"name":"Biometals","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149036017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}