Compartmentalization and Interaction of Pax5 and Pax6 in Brain of Mice

Many transcription factors play important roles to maintain the microenvironment, integrity of the blood-brain barrier, the neurons-glia interaction, activities of microglia, composition of cerebrospinal fluid, metabolic activities, concentration of neurotransmitters, presence of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, ischemia, stress, aging, neurological disorders, and diseases. The Paired box transcription factors and multifunctional proteins, Pax6 and Pax5 are expressed in brain. They regulate several regulators from cell cycle to cell death. The Pax5, a B-cell lineage-specific activator protein (BSAP), is expressed in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, third ventricles, and choroid plexus. The Pax5 has been observed down-regulated in autism, mental retardation, and Glioblastoma multiforme. The Pax6 affects genes of neurodegeneration, immunological surveillance, and energy homeostasis in brain of mice. The Pax5 and Pax6 recognize several similar DNA sequences and regulate the expression of genes in a tissue-specific manner. Therefore, it is presumed that Pax5 and Pax6, are compartmentalized in brain of mice. Results indicate interactions, cell and tissue-specific compartmentalization, and co-localization of Pax5 and Pax6 in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus in brain of mice.

The impact of bisphenol a (BPA) on the placenta

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that is used in a wide-variety of plastic and common house-hold items. Therefore, there is potential continual exposure to this compound. BPA exposure has been linked to certain placenta-associated obstetric complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, miscarriage, and preterm birth. However, how BPA exposure results in these disorders remains uncertain. Hence, we have herein summarized the reported impact of BPA on the morphology and metabolic state of the placenta and have proposed mechanisms by which BPA affects placentation, potentially leading to obstetric complications. Current findings suggest that BPA induces pathological changes in the placenta and disrupts its metabolic activities. Based on exposure concentrations, BPA can elicit apoptotic or anti-apoptotic signals in the trophoblasts; and can exaggerate trophoblast fusion while inhibiting trophoblast migration and invasion to affect pregnancy. Accordingly, the usage of BPA products by pregnant women should be minimized and less harmful alternative chemicals should be explored and employed where possible.

Allium-Based Phytobiotic for Laying Hens’ Supplementation: Effects on Productivity, Egg Quality, and Fecal Microbiota

The poultry industry is constantly demanding novel strategies to improve the productivity and health status of hens, prioritizing those based on the holistic use of natural resources. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Allium-based phytobiotic on productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two 14-week-old Lohmann Lite LSL hens were allocated into an experimental farm, fed with a commercial concentrate with and without the Allium-based phytobiotic, and challenged against Salmonella. Productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota were monitored for 20 weeks. Results showed that the phytobiotic caused an increase on the number of eggs laid (p < 0.05) and in the feed conversion rate (p < 0.05); meanwhile, egg quality, expressed as egg weight, albumin height, haugh units, egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05), although yolk color was decreased. Fecal microbiota structure was also modified, indicating a modulation of the gut microbiota by increasing the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes but reducing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Predicted changes in the functional profiles of fecal microbiota suggest alterations in metabolic activities that could be responsible for the improvement and maintenance of productivity and egg quality when the phytobiotic was supplemented; thus, Allium-based phytobiotic has a major impact on the performance of laying hens associated with a possible gut microbiota modulation.

Double-edge sword roles of iron in driving energy production versus instigating ferroptosis

Iron is vital for many physiological functions, including energy production, and dysregulated iron homeostasis underlies a number of pathologies. Ferroptosis is a recently recognized form of regulated cell death that is characterized by iron dependency and lipid peroxidation, and this process has been reported to be involved in multiple diseases. The mechanisms underlying ferroptosis are complex, and involve both well-described pathways (including the iron-induced Fenton reaction, impaired antioxidant capacity, and mitochondrial dysfunction) and novel interactions linked to cellular energy production. In this review, we examine the contribution of iron to diverse metabolic activities and their relationship to ferroptosis. There is an emphasis on the role of iron in driving energy production and its link to ferroptosis under both physiological and pathological conditions. In conclusion, excess reactive oxygen species production driven by disordered iron metabolism, which induces Fenton reaction and/or impairs mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, is a key inducer of ferroptosis.

Psychrophiles

Life on the Earth has evolved in the cold environments. Such cold habitats pose special challenges to the microbes in cold ecosystems, such as minimum metabolic activities, very limited nutrient availability, and often extreme conditions such as pH and salinity apart from temperature. Microbial communities surviving under these extreme conditions must have evolved complex structural and functional adaptations. Prokaryotic adaptations to cold environments are through physiological adaptations by increasing membrane fluidity through large amount of unsaturated fatty acids. These microbes also possess some cold adapted proteins whose steady state levels are maintained. They also produce certain compounds such as polyamines, sugars, polyols, amino acids, and some antifreeze proteins to protect themselves under freezing conditions. They also produce exopolymeric substances that promote adhesion of microbes to moist surfaces to induce biofilm formation which helps getting nutrients and protect the cells from harsh conditions. Antioxidants help destroying toxic reactive oxygen species.

Evaluation of Drought Tolerance of Five Maize Genotypes by Virtue of Physiological and Molecular Responses

Drought has been recognized as a potential challenge to maize production around the world, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The primary focus of the present study was to investigate the metabolic and physiological adjustment mechanisms as well as drought-responsive gene expression patterns in five maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes (G314, G2, G10, G123, and G326) with varying drought-tolerance capacities at the vegetative stage. Twenty-one days-old maize plants from five maize genotypes were submitted to a well-watered (10 days) watering interval as a control, mild water stress (15 day interval), and severe water stress (20 day interval) treatments in a field experiment for two successive seasons (2019 and 2020). For all maize genotypes, the results showed that water stress significantly reduced plant height, leaf area, biomass, and yield characteristics. However, water stress, which was associated with the length of the watering interval, increased the concentrations of glycine betaine, amino acids, proline, phenols, flavonoids, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars, as well as catalase and peroxidase activities. On the transcriptional level, prolonged water stress increased the expression of drought-responsive genes (LOS5, Rad17, NCED1, CAT1, and ZmP5CS1), with G10 and G123 genotypes being the most drought-resistant. Herein, genotypes G10 and G123 were shown in this study to be relatively water stress tolerant due to improved osmoregulatory, antioxidant, and metabolic activities under water stress conditions, as well as the fact that they were endowed with stress-responsive genes.

Manipulation of light spectrum can improve the performance of photosynthetic apparatus of strawberry plants growing under salt and alkalinity stress

Strawberry is one of the plants sensitive to salt and alkalinity stress. Light quality affects plant growth and metabolic activities. However, there is no clear answer in the literature on how light can improve the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of this species under salt and alkalinity stress. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of different spectra of supplemental light on strawberry (cv. Camarosa) under salt and alkalinity stress conditions. Light spectra of blue (with peak 460 nm), red (with peak 660 nm), blue/red (1:3), white/yellow (1:1) (400–700 nm) and ambient light were used as control. There were three stress treatments: control (no stress), alkalinity (40 mM NaHCO3), and salinity (80 mM NaCl). Under stress conditions, red and red/blue light had a positive effect on CO2 assimilation. In addition, blue/red light increased intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) under both stress conditions. Salinity and alkalinity stress decreased OJIP curves compared to the control treatment. Blue light caused an increase in its in plants under salinity stress, and red and blue/red light caused an increase in its in plants under alkalinity. Both salt and alkalinity stress caused a significant reduction in photosystem II (PSII) performance indices and quantum yield parameters. Adjustment of light spectra, especially red light, increased these parameters. It can be concluded that the adverse effects of salt and alkalinity stress on photosynthesis can be partially alleviated by changing the light spectra.

Consumption of supplementary inulin modulates milk microbiota and metabolites in dairy cows with subclinical mastitis

Milk microbiota and mediated metabolites directly affect the health of the udder in dairy cows. Inulin, a dietary prebiotic, can modulate the profile of gastrointestinal microbiota. However, whether the inulin intake affects the milk microbial population and metabolites remains unknown. In this study, forty subclinical mastitis (SCM) cows were randomly divided into 5 groups. Five inulin addition doses, 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/d per cow, based on the same basal diet were supplemented, respectively. The experiments lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed lower relative abundance of mastitic-causing and pro-inflammation microbes in milk (i.e., Escherichia -Shigella , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia , etc.), and higher probiotics and commensal bacteria, such as, Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , etc. in the cows fed 300 g/d inulin, compared with the control group. Meanwhile, the levels of arachidonic acid pro-inflammatory mediators (leukotriene E3, 20-carboxy-leukotriene B4 and 12-Oxo-c-LTB3) and phospholipid metabolites were reduced, and the levels of compounds with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential (prostaglandin A1 and 8-iso-15-Keto-PGE 2 , etc.), and participating energy metabolism (citric acid and L-Carnitine, etc.) were elevated. These data suggested that inulin intake might modulate the microflora and metabolites level in extra-intestinal tissue, such as mammary gland, which provided an alternative for the regulation and mitigation for SCM. IMPORTANCE The profile of microbial community and metabolic activity in milk are main determinant of udder health status and milk quality. Recent studies have demonstrated that diet could directly modulate mammary gland microbiome. Inulin is a probiotic dietary fiber, which can improve the microbiota population in gastrointestinal tract. However, whether inulin intake can further regulate the profile of microbiota and metabolic activities in milk remains unclear. In subclinical mastitic cows, we found that inulin supplementation could reduce the abundance of Escherichia -Shigella , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia and the levels of (±)12, 13 - DiHOME, leukotriene E3 and 20-Carboxy-Leukotriene B4 etc., while, elevated the abundance of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , and Muribaculaceae as well as the levels of prostaglandin A1 (PGA1), 8-iso-15-keto-PGE2 and benzoic acid etc., in milk. These data suggest that inulin intake affects the profile of microorganisms and metabolites in milk, which provides an alternative for the regulation of mastitis.

Effect of Fungus, Aspergillus sp. F1-1, on the Corrosion Behavior of PCB-HASL in Humid Atmospheric Environment

Fungi, as one of the serious factors causing microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), can shorten the service life of electronic materials which are wildly used in the atmospheric environment. In this study, the effect of Aspergillus sp. F1-1 (A. F1-1) isolated from PCB samples after the exposure test in Xishuang Banna on the corrosion behavior of PCB-HASL was investigated. The presence of the A. F1-1 posed a threat of local corrosion on PCB-HASLs. An obvious decrease of pH was observed in PCB with A. F1-1 due to the various organic acids secreted by A. F1-1. The presence of the fungi also led to serious surface cracking and delamination. Creep corrosion and micro-hole corrosion were accelerated in the presence of A. F1-1 compared to the control. Additionally, the metabolic activities of A. F1-1 were associated with enrichment of Cu-containing corrosion products under the hypha.