The Science of Nature最新文献

Functional insights into drought-tolerant PGPR: impacts on physiological responses and yield performance of direct-seeded rice under water stress 抗旱PGPR的功能研究：对水分胁迫下直播水稻生理反应和产量的影响

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-10-02 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02025-8

Faiza Javed, Sumera Iqbal, Muhammad Shahbaz Farooq, Khajista Jabeen, Noshin Ilyas, Abid Majeed

{"title":"Functional insights into drought-tolerant PGPR: impacts on physiological responses and yield performance of direct-seeded rice under water stress","authors":"Faiza Javed, Sumera Iqbal, Muhammad Shahbaz Farooq, Khajista Jabeen, Noshin Ilyas, Abid Majeed","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02025-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02025-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Drought stress poses a significant threat to rice productivity, particularly when rice is cultivated through the direct seeded system (DSR). This paper aimed to isolate and characterize drought-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from rice rhizospheric soils in arid and semi-arid areas of Pakistan and assess their efficacy in improving rice growth under drought conditions. Six isolates exhibited PGPR traits such as phosphate solubilization, indole 3-acetic acid production, ACC deaminase activity, siderophore production, and osmolyte accumulation. Pot experiments under drought stress (60% field capacity) demonstrated that inoculation with PGPR enhanced the germination rate, chlorophyll level, water status, membrane stability, and biochemical parameters in rice exceptionally. Among these, isolate NRC13, identified as <i>Bacillus velezensis</i>, showed the greatest efficacy in enhancing physiological, biochemical, and yield characteristics, including grain yield and 1000-grain weight under drought stress. This study provides the first evidence of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> NRC13’s application in direct-seeded rice under drought conditions in Pakistan, demonstrating the potential of this novel bio-inoculant to increase rice productivity and resilience in water-deficient settings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145196248","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}

引用次数: 0

Choline hydroxide mediated eco-friendly synthesis of 5-arylidene thiazol-4(5H)-one clubbed coumarin: antimicrobial evaluation and in silico studies 氢氧化胆碱介导的5-芳基噻唑-4(5H)- 1棒香豆素的生态友好合成：抗菌评价和硅研究。

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02026-7

Muneera S. M. Al-Saleem, Jehan Y. Al-Humaidi, Ahmed A. Elhenawy, Sayed M. Riyadh, Magdi E. A. Zaki, Ohoud A. Jefri, Sobhi M. Gomha

{"title":"Choline hydroxide mediated eco-friendly synthesis of 5-arylidene thiazol-4(5H)-one clubbed coumarin: antimicrobial evaluation and in silico studies","authors":"Muneera S. M. Al-Saleem, Jehan Y. Al-Humaidi, Ahmed A. Elhenawy, Sayed M. Riyadh, Magdi E. A. Zaki, Ohoud A. Jefri, Sobhi M. Gomha","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02026-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02026-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>An efficient and eco-friendly method was developed for synthesizing coumarin–thiazolidinone hybrids using choline hydroxide as a green catalyst. A series of arylidene derivatives (<b>3a–i, 5</b>) were prepared and characterized. Antimicrobial screening against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi demonstrated significant activity, particularly for compound <b>3c</b>, which produced inhibition zones of up to 30.8 mm against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and compound <b>3i</b>, which showed a MIC of 6.25 µg/mL against <i>Escherichia coli</i>, comparable to standard antibiotics. Structure–activity relationship analysis revealed that electron-donating substituents (–OCH₃, indolyl) markedly enhanced potency, while halogen and nitro substituents reduced activity. DFT calculations supported these findings, with <b>3i</b> showing a low HOMO–LUMO gap (3.183 eV) indicating high reactivity. Molecular docking against Staphylococcus aureus dihydrofolate reductase (PDB: 2XCT) confirmed strong binding, with compound <b>3c</b> achieving a docking score of –8.6 kcal/mol. These results establish coumarin–thiazolidinone hybrids as promising scaffolds for antimicrobial drug development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145197511","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}

引用次数: 0

Group living influences larval melanism in gregarious caterpillars 群居生活影响群居毛虫幼虫的黑化。

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-25 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02027-6

Mónica F. Cisternas, Rodrigo S. Ríos, Ernesto Gianoli

{"title":"Group living influences larval melanism in gregarious caterpillars","authors":"Mónica F. Cisternas, Rodrigo S. Ríos, Ernesto Gianoli","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02027-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02027-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Group living in gregarious caterpillars provides several benefits, including enhanced anti-predator defense and improved thermoregulation. Melanism affects both thermoregulation, with melanic forms warming up faster, and anti-predator protection, through its link to aposematic coloration and cuticle thickening. Due to the macroevolutionary association between larval gregariousness and aposematic coloration in Lepidoptera, it has been hypothesized that gregariousness could have evolved to maximize the warning coloration signal. We evaluated melanism patterns in caterpillars from the gregarious swallowtail <i>Battus polydamas archidamas</i> reared singly and in groups of ten individuals. We compared melanism in caterpillars from two populations differing in climate and predation risk, testing for an association between melanism and thermoregulation and/or anti-predator protection. We expected to find darker caterpillars in the colder population, which also showed a higher predation risk from ants. Considering that the group of caterpillars may maximize the warning signal, we hypothesized that solitary caterpillars would be darker (more aposematic). The degree of larval melanism was similar in both populations. Caterpillars in groups showed decreased levels of melanism compared to solitary caterpillars in both populations. Concerning performance costs of melanism, darker caterpillars were slightly—yet not significantly—smaller. Results suggest that the patterns of larval melanism in solitary vs gregarious caterpillars might be rather fixed, less related to current ecological conditions than to the evolutionary importance of aposematic coloration. If the general pattern for gregarious caterpillars results to be that larval melanism has negligible costs, then decreased melanism could be considered another benefit of gregariousness in Lepidoptera.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145136147","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}

引用次数: 0

Structural, histochemical, and ecological peculiarities of lenticular leaf galls induced on the epiphytic fern Microgramma vacciniifolia (Polypodiaceae) 水蛭科附生蕨类植物透镜状叶瘿的结构、组织化学和生态特性

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-16 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02023-w

Bruno Garcia Ferreira, Ricardo Enrique de Azevedo Farias Godoy, Gabriela Soares Martins, Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Noronha, Atiles Reis, Marcelo Guerra Santos

{"title":"Structural, histochemical, and ecological peculiarities of lenticular leaf galls induced on the epiphytic fern Microgramma vacciniifolia (Polypodiaceae)","authors":"Bruno Garcia Ferreira, Ricardo Enrique de Azevedo Farias Godoy, Gabriela Soares Martins, Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Noronha, Atiles Reis, Marcelo Guerra Santos","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02023-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02023-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Interactions among gall inducers and ferns, particularly in epiphytic Polypodiaceae, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated lenticular Cecidomyiidae galls induced on the leaves of the epiphyte <i>Microgramma vacciniifolia</i> and compared their developmental cycle, interactions, and anatomical, histochemical, and histometrical profiles with those of ungalled leaves. These galls, covered by a silky film produced by the larva, exhibit a multivoltine life cycle, with induction occurring on expanded leaves throughout both dry and rainy seasons. Interactions with <i>Holopothrips</i> (Thysanoptera) were observed during the rainy season, suggesting potential predation and kleptoparasitism. Anatomical and histometric changes in galls are minimal, but the cell layer in contact with the gall inducer strongly accumulates reducing sugars, proteins, lipids, and phenolics, likely supporting larval nutrition and the plant’s antioxidant response. Comparing these galls to those on other epiphytic Polypodiaceae, such as <i>Niphidium crassifolium</i>, and investigating the phylogeny of the galling Cecidomyiidae could reveal whether these relationships coevolved and whether gall simplicity represents an ancestral trait or a derived adaptation in ferns. This study highlights the need for further research to understand the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of plant–insect interactions in epiphytic systems.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062202","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}

引用次数: 0

The Impact of LINC-PINT polymorphisms on HNSCC risk in a Chinese han population LINC-PINT多态性对中国汉族人群HNSCC风险的影响

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-16 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02024-9

Lingyu Kong, Wenjing Wang, Hang Meng, Mengnan Hou, Shan Wang, Wanli Ren, Hao Dai, Bin Li, Tianbo Jin

{"title":"The Impact of LINC-PINT polymorphisms on HNSCC risk in a Chinese han population","authors":"Lingyu Kong, Wenjing Wang, Hang Meng, Mengnan Hou, Shan Wang, Wanli Ren, Hao Dai, Bin Li, Tianbo Jin","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02024-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02024-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Inherited genes are non-modifiable risk factors for HNSCC. This study aims to determine the association between <i>LINC-PINT</i> polymorphism and the risk of HNSCC risk in a Chinese Han population. Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples of 524 HNSCC patients and 517 healthy controls. The associations of <i>LINC-PINT</i> polymorphisms and HNSCC susceptibility were evaluated through logistic regression analysis. Our study showed that rs157916, rs16873842, and rs7781295 were related to an increased susceptibility to HNSCC. Stratification analyses demonstrated that rs157916 and rs7781295 were associated with an increased risk of HNSCC in age ≤ 46 years, men, and thyroid SCC. Rs16873842 and rs7801029 showed an enhanced risk of HNSCC in men. Additionally, rs16873842 and rs7781295 may increase the risk of Nasopharyngeal SCC. Moreover, the combination of rs7801029 and rs7781295 could serve as a predictive model for HNSCC. This study suggests that <i>LINC-PINT</i> polymorphisms may be correlated with an increased risk of HNSCC.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062283","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}

引用次数: 0

Silicic acid seed pre-treatment modulates growth and antioxidant responses in maize under drought stress 硅酸预处理对干旱胁迫下玉米生长和抗氧化反应的调节作用

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-10 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02021-y

Abid Ali, Sara Zafar, Kashf Mehmood, Zuhair Hasnain, Muhammad Nawaz, Syed Muhammad Junaid Jalal Gilani, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Saud Alamri, Shahbaz Khan

{"title":"Silicic acid seed pre-treatment modulates growth and antioxidant responses in maize under drought stress","authors":"Abid Ali, Sara Zafar, Kashf Mehmood, Zuhair Hasnain, Muhammad Nawaz, Syed Muhammad Junaid Jalal Gilani, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Saud Alamri, Shahbaz Khan","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02021-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02021-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Drought stress is the most vulnerable abiotic factor affecting plant growth and yield. The use of silicic acid as seed priming treatment is emerging as an effective approach to regulate maize plants susceptibility to water stress. The study was formulated for investigating the effect of silicic acid seed priming treatment in modulating the oxidative defense and key physio-biochemical attributes of maize plants under drought stress conditions. Silicic acid (control, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1 mM) primed seeds of maize cultivars Gohar-19 and Pak Afghoi were sown in soil filled pots at 100% and 60% field capacity. At 60% field capacity, a marked decline in fresh (1.23, 1.03 g) and dry (0.45, 0.38 g) biomass was observed as compared to 100% field capacity (1.34, 1.13 g; 0.53, 0.50 g) in Gohar-19, which exhibited better performance as compared to Pak Afghoi under control and drought stress conditions. Notably, seed priming with 1 mM silicic acid markedly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, thereby strengthening the antioxidant defense system. Additionally, primed seeds exhibited improved accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites critical for stress adaptation. Principal component analysis confirmed a distinct separation of attributes with respect to silicic acid pretreatment under water stress in maize plants. These findings demonstrate that silicic acid seed priming effectively enhances maize growth and biochemical resilience under drought stress by activating antioxidant defenses and modulating key metabolic pathways. This approach holds a significant potential as a sustainable agronomic practice to mitigate drought effects and to improve crop productivity through nutri-priming.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145021739","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}

引用次数: 0

Influence of different stimulants on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain in relation to the germination and early growth 不同刺激物对小麦籽粒萌发和早期生长的影响

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-09 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02020-z

Božena Šerá, Pratik Doshi, Lubomír Věchet

{"title":"Influence of different stimulants on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain in relation to the germination and early growth","authors":"Božena Šerá, Pratik Doshi, Lubomír Věchet","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02020-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02020-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to the growing environmental and health concerns with chemical plant stimulants, there is a growing need to find alternative sources of plant stimulants that could help the seeds germinate and sustain their growth in the global climate change scenario. The article compares various seed stimulants such as chemical compounds (benzothiadiazole, salicylic acid, glycine betaine), alcoholic extracts from commercial plant products (English oak bark, ginger spices, turmeric spices, caraway fruits) and from wild plant leaves (Japanese pagoda tree, Himalayan balsam, stinging nettle and Bohemian knotweed) and their effects on wheat seed germination and seedling characteristics. It was found that BTH had significantly lower effect on seedling characteristics such as SG3 (%), SG5 (%), R/S III, SVI I (mm) and SVI III (mg) followed by ZO on SG3 (%), SG5 (%) and GI (unit). Significantly highest R/S III was found in SJ treatment, while SVI I (mm) and SVI III (mg) characteristics were significantly enhanced by treatment with CC and RB. It seems that such plant materials could be useful in alternative agriculture for different purposes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00114-025-02020-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011921","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}

引用次数: 0

Cerrado ash reduces volatile emissions from faeces but does not influence the olfactory responses of the dung beetles 塞拉多灰烬减少了粪便中的挥发性排放物，但不影响屎壳郎的嗅觉反应

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-09 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02022-x

N. L. Reis, M. F. G. V. Peñaflor, W. Beiroz, J. Louzada

{"title":"Cerrado ash reduces volatile emissions from faeces but does not influence the olfactory responses of the dung beetles","authors":"N. L. Reis, M. F. G. V. Peñaflor, W. Beiroz, J. Louzada","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02022-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02022-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fire is a key natural disturbance influencing physical, chemical, and biological processes in the Cerrado. Ash, a fire byproduct, may significantly influence soil macrofauna through its chemical properties. Dung beetles (Scarabaeinae), critical components of Cerrado soil macrofauna, provide key ecological functions and services. Here, we investigate whether ash deposition from burned Cerrado grassland vegetation alters odour-guided foraging in <i>Dichotomius bos</i>, a native dung beetle species, by modifying the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in faecal resources. We hypothesised that ash would reduce VOC emissions from faeces, thereby decreasing their attractiveness to <i>D. bos.</i> Volatiles from swine faeces, with and without ash, were collected via solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Eight VOCs were selected based on their relative abundance and identification: dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), <i>p</i>-cresol, 3-ethylphenol, 2-undecanone, 2-methylindole, skatole, (Z)-6-pentadecen-1-ol, and heptadecan-1-ol. The relative abundance of all target compounds was reduced in ash-exposed faeces. In four-choice olfactometer trials, <i>D. bos</i> exhibited a strong attraction to swine faecal odours. However, despite reduced VOC relative abundance in ash-treated faeces, beetles showed equivalent attraction to odours from faeces with and without ash. These results suggest <i>D. bos</i> is resilient to post-fire chemical changes in resource odours, likely reflecting adaptations to fire-prone Cerrado ecosystems. Investigating dung beetle responses to fire-derived alterations in resource chemistry may inform management strategies to conserve Cerrado biodiversity under fire regimes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011916","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}

引用次数: 0

Development of collagen-based hydrogel derived from allicin-silver nanoparticles for wound healing 大蒜银纳米颗粒制备胶原基水凝胶用于伤口愈合的研究

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-08 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02017-8

Subashini R, MD Tameem Tabbasum, Dharshan AH, Shakti Varsha S

{"title":"Development of collagen-based hydrogel derived from allicin-silver nanoparticles for wound healing","authors":"Subashini R, MD Tameem Tabbasum, Dharshan AH, Shakti Varsha S","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02017-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02017-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Wounds with extensive tissue damage are highly susceptible for microbial infections delaying the process of wound healing. Currently, biomaterials with therapeutic molecules emerged as key players in wound repairing. This work developed a novel collagen-based hydrogel loaded with allicin and silver nanoparticles. The allicin is extracted from <i>Allium sativum</i>. The hydrogel demonstrated wound healing efficacy by achieving full closure within 72 h in an in vitro scratch wound assay on Vero cells. The antimicrobial activity of the hydrogel was confirmed against Gram-positive bacteria with zone of inhibition values of 14 mm for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml. Cytotoxicity studies on Vero cells, reported significantly low cytotoxicity with 98.11% at a concentration of 7.8 μg/ml indicating its biocompatibility. Zeta potential measurement revealed good stability of the silver nanoparticles with a value of − 27.8 mV. The swelling degree of the hydrogel reached up to 6.11 indicating its capacity to maintain moisture while wound repairing. Altogether, these findings suggests that this biomaterial may represent a promising replacement to wound repairing treatments. Future research focusing in vivo studies could lay a pathway for clinical applications in regenerative medicine.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011904","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}

引用次数: 0

Silk properties of Asian weaver ant changes over time: an understanding of nest protection from natural calamities 亚洲织蚁的丝特性随时间而变化：对保护巢穴免受自然灾害的理解

IF 2.1 3区生物学

The Science of Nature Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-025-02019-6

Avishek Dolai, Amlan Das

{"title":"Silk properties of Asian weaver ant changes over time: an understanding of nest protection from natural calamities","authors":"Avishek Dolai, Amlan Das","doi":"10.1007/s00114-025-02019-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-025-02019-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Insect silk is a naturally occurring protein that forms semicrystalline threads when exposed to air. The Asian weaver ant, <i>Oecophylla smaragdina</i> (Formicidae: Hymenoptera), frequently uses silks for leaf weaving in nest construction to maintain its integrity and durability. The silk imparts resilience and durability to the nests, preventing fracturing or breaking during many natural disasters, particularly heavy rainfall and strong winds. Therefore, understanding the strength and stability of these silk threads necessitates an examination of their structural components and physicochemical properties. Silk samples aged 30 days, 180 days, and 365 days are analysed to assess the temporal differences in silk durability and hardness. According to infrared Fourier transform studies, the silk mostly consists of alkanes, alkenes, amides, and alcohols, while energy-dispersive X-ray analysis identifies carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen as the principal elements, with minor quantities of magnesium, aluminium, silicon, and potassium. As per X-ray powder diffraction, the silk exhibits a crystalline sheet structure. Its mass, thickness, density, and tensile strength increase as the silk becomes older. The ‘contact angle’ of the silk also increases with age, indicating its hydrophobic nature. The thermogravimetric curve shows the fibre’s long-term endurance and thermal stability. The physicochemical properties of <i>Oecophylla</i> silk highlight its unique strength and endurance, explaining why they utilise its advantages to protect their nests from severe environmental conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"112 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929323","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}

引用次数: 0