Various studies, including morpho-taxonomic identifications, have indicated that commercial spirulina cultures (Limnospira spp.) can be contaminated by other cyanobacteria without establishing a connection with the potential presence of cyanotoxins. The taxonomy and nomenclature of cyanobacteria has changed significantly since the usage of phylogenetic methods and reclassification could lead to confusion in the designation of taxa previously identified as toxin producers. It therefore appears necessary to characterize the cyanosphere of commercial spirulina cultures in the light of these recent developments. In a collection of six spirulina cultivars used in commercial biomass production, we detected a recurrent dominant cyanobacterial contaminant using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Further, Next-Generation Sequencing as well as genetic and morphological characterization pointed towards the genus Sodalinema. A comprehensive analysis of five Sodalinema available genomes as well as our novel metagenome-assembled genome did not reveal any genes involved in the synthesis of cyanotoxins, which suggested that this contaminant is harmless. Still, to avoid valuable biomass related financial loss, we took advantage of spirulina capacity to utilize various forms of nitrogen to set up a procedure to control the proliferation of Sodalinema sp. Finally, a glimpse into heterotrophic contamination of those cultivars indicated that the bacterial composition is very diverse but still several phyla appeared to be very common in open-pond cultivation of spirulina in the Mediterranean region.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), marked by excess fat in the liver, has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting over 30
Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with a substantial genetic component. Over the past decade, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous loci associated with PD risk; however, interpretation of these findings and their broader applicability remain challenging. In this systematic review, we synthesize results from 35 GWAS published between 2015 and 2025, encompassing diverse study designs and ancestries. Recurrent risk loci, including SNCA, LRRK2, MAPT, and GBA1, were consistently replicated across multiple studies, while several ancestry-specific associations were reported, particularly in East Asian and African ancestry cohorts. Nevertheless, representation of African, South Asian, and Latino populations remains limited, constraining the global generalizability of current findings. We also discuss methodological extensions beyond single-variant GWAS, including rare variant analyses, polygenic risk scores, and machine learning–based approaches, which have been applied to complement traditional analyses but remain primarily research tools due to limited validation and interpretability. Together, this review outlines the current genetic landscape of PD and identifies key methodological and population-based gaps that must be addressed to support robust and equitable translation of GWAS discoveries.
Caffeine intake during pregnancy is widespread, yet it continues to raise public health concerns due to its implications for embryogenesis. Despite extensive research, the long-term consequences of prolonged high-dose caffeine exposure on critical phases of fetal organogenesis remain incompletely characterized. This study was aimed at investigating the impact of prolonged prenatal caffeine administration on kidney and liver development in Swiss albino mice. Pregnant mice (n = 18) received daily IP injections of caffeine (90 mg/kg/day) or saline from GD 8.5 to 18.5. Neonatal offspring were assessed for growth parameters, and molecular as well as histological analyses were performed on kidney and liver tissues, focusing on apoptosis-related markers p53 and caspase-3. Caffeine-exposed offspring showed significant growth restriction with reduced body size and weight and shorter crown-rump length. In the kidneys, caffeine caused marked suppression of p53 expression, a 3.5-fold increase in caspase-3 activity, and significant tubular disorganization. The liver maintained p53 expression but exhibited a significant increase in caspase-3 protein. Our in silico transcriptomic analysis revealed caffeine-induced dysregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis pathways in liver cells and ribosome biogenesis in renal cells, identifying key hub genes linked to lipid metabolism and RNA processing. These findings support our in vitro observations of p53 downregulation and caspase-3 activation, suggesting caffeine’s role in modulating apoptosis and cell cycle regulation. Prolonged high-dose caffeine exposure induces fetal growth impairment and organ-specific developmental toxicity, with different apoptotic dysregulation patterns in the kidneys by the p53-dependent pathway and in the liver by caspase-3-mediated pathways. This study highlights the importance of carefully considering caffeine dosage and duration of exposure during early pregnancy.
The growing environmental burden of single-use plastics has intensified the demand for sustainable packaging alternatives. This study develops biodegradable plates from sugarcane bagasse and optimizes their mechanical strength, flexibility, and water resistance through the incorporation of starch (2–6
