Modern delineation of the Fusarium species using genetic data faces challenges no less complex than those previously encountered, when species descriptions were based exclusively on morphological characteristics. In present study, the taxonomic status of five fungal strains belonging to the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex, which is a highly heterogeneous group of Fusarium, was clarified. The strains were isolated from wild and cultivated grasses and maintained in the fungal collections for 13–18 years under the epithet F. semitectum (syn. F. incarnatum). More precise identification of these strains as F. weifangense was achieved by combining phylogenetic analysis of fragments of the translation elongation factor 1α gene, the gene encoding RNA polymerase subunit II analyses, and calmodulin gene with morphological description and pathogenicity evaluation. The results of a comparative analysis of the phenotypic characteristics of the strains with those previously reported for this species, which are largely inconsistent. That differences in morphological description may be due to internal polymorphism of taxon, as well as differences in methodological approaches used by different research groups. The analyzed strains caused weak necrosis of wheat leaves inoculated under laboratory conditions, which indicates that F. weifangense is a non-pathogenic fungus. However, the previously demonstrated ability of the F. weifangense strains to produce zearalenone and diacetoxyscirpenol makes it necessary to clarify area and adaptive properties of this fungus.
Extracellular vesicles are important transmitters of oncogenic signals between cancer cells. Despite numerous studies of vesicles from model glioblastoma (GBM) cells, information on the effects of vesicles from GBM patients on the development of model GB cells is lacking. In this study, plasma vesicles from healthy donors (HVs) and GBM patients (GVs) were studied to affect expression of differentiation (GFAP and GLT-1) and stemness (CD9 and CD133) markers and expression and activation of the oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases EGFR and PDGFRβ in GBM cells (primary GBM011 and model U251 MG cell lines) and rat and human normal astrocytes. GVs reduced GFAP expression in GBM011 cells and stimulated GFAP and CD9 expression in U251 MG cells. GVs increased EGFR and PDGFRβ expression in both GBM cell lines and enhanced EGFR (Y1086) and PDGFRβ (Y751) phosphorylation in U251 MG cells. HVs stimulated CD9 expression in U251 MG cells and PDGFRβ expression in GBM011 cells, but decreased EGFR and PDGFRβ expression in U251 MG cells. Thus, both GVs and HVs influence the GBM phenotype and receptor tyrosine kinase activation.
The paper reports a find of a left lower molar (m1) of a pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus sp.) from Holocene deposits of the Ust-Log-5 rock shelter, which is on the right bank of the Irgina River at the boundary between Perm Krai and Sverdlovsk Oblast. Radiocarbon dating assigns the deposits containing the pipistrelle tooth to the Middle-to-Late Holocene transition. The find of Pipistrellus sp. is of considerable interest for understanding the past distribution history of bats of the genus in the Urals.
The contents of total lipids (TL) and individual lipid classes were studied in the mantle, foot, and hepatopancreas of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera from eight northwestern Russian rivers belonging to the White and Barents Sea basins. Tissue specificity of the lipid composition was observed in the studied tissues; i.e., the hepatopancreas had several times higher contents of TL and dominant lipid classes. A predominance of triacylglycerols among energetic lipids in the hepatopancreas was a distinctive feature of pearl mussels from the Lotta, Sredniy Verman, Mashjoki, and Nautsiyoki rivers, whereas cholesterol esters predominated in mussels from the rivers of the Pyaozero water system, which is further south. Furthermore, the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (an indicator of the structural and functional state of membranes and a marker of temperature adaptation) was the highest in pearl mussels from the Lotta, Sredniy Verman, Mashjoki, and Nautsiyoki rivers. This may be related to corresponding adaptive changes associated with preparation for the winter period, given a more northern location of the rivers. The results of lipid status analysis in pearl mussels from different habitats may be useful for monitoring studies aimed at preserving and restoring populations of the species in the wild.
Circadian rhythm disruption is a risk factor for metabolic and age-associated diseases. The liver is a key target of such desynchronosis. The effect of chronic continuous light exposure and the corrective effect of melatonin on the liver status were investigated in rats. Desynchronosis mediated by melatonin deficiency was shown to induce the formation of a pro-senescent and metabolically dysfunctional liver phenotype. Melatonin administration significantly reduced the severity of the identified disorders and prevented statistically significant deviations in most of the parameters under study. The results, together with previous data on ultrastructural damage to hepatocytes and a negative impact of desynchronosis on lifespan, indicate that chronic continuous light exposure is a significant pro-gerontological factor and that melatonin is an effective agent for correcting the associated disturbances of liver homeostasis.
Field and laboratory studies were performed to assess the age-related characteristics of the amino acid spectrum of blood plasma in pond bats (Myotis dasycneme Boie, 1825) from natural populations of the Urals. A comparative analysis of the free amino acid pool content in the blood plasma of adult and juvenile (subadult) female pond bats during the summer period of their annual life cycle is presented for the first time. The plasma amino acid pool of the pond bat, regardless of age, comprised 22 amino acids and their derivatives, including the full spectrum of functionally significant essential amino acids: threonine, valine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, arginine, histidine, and tryptophan. An assessment was made of the interconnected role of the blood system and free amino acids in animals in shaping the species adaptive strategy in response to both seasonal variation in the annual life cycle and pathogens of natural and zoonotic significance.
This paper describes large owls from the Lower Pleistocene of the Taurida Cave in Crimea, which are represented by three species. A series of postcranial skeletal elements is assigned to the tawny owl (Strix aluco)-this is the oldest find of this modern species. A fragmentary tarsometatarsus and femur represent a larger form-the fossil species Strix intermedia Jánossy, 1972, known mainly from the Middle Pleistocene of Western and Central Europe. The coexistence of S. aluco and S. intermedia within one fauna is shown for the first time and confirms the validity of S. intermedia. Furthermore, a new fossil species, Asio pythiotus sp. nov., is described based on a tarsometatarsus, morphologically similar to the long-eared owl (A. otus), but noticeably larger.
Plant extracellular vesicles (exosomes) are considered promising nanostructures for biomedical and biotechnological applications; however, methods for their isolation from plant cell cultures remain insufficiently optimized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of exosome isolation from callus and suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera and to investigate the effects of culture age and extraction method on the yield of extracellular vesicles. It was demonstrated that suspension culture provides a higher exosome yield compared to callus tissue. Isolated particles were characterized by a size of 90–120 nm and a negative zeta potential, which corresponded to typical properties of plant extracellular vesicles. The maximum exosome yield was observed with a two-week-old suspension culture, which corresponded to the phase of intense cell growth. Comparison of extraction methods revealed that mechanical homogenization using a blender was the most efficient approach for exosome isolation, providing a high particle yield without significant deterioration in sample purity. The results demonstrate the potential of V. vinifera suspension cultures as a scalable platform for the production of plant-derived exosomes and may be useful for the development of biotechnological systems for the isolation of plant extracellular vesicles.
The study examined systemic effects of short-term exposure to an enriched environment (EE) on the morphofunctional state of the liver, oxidative-antioxidant balance, and hormonal status in young (3 months) and mature (12 months) males of Wistar rats. In adult control rats, signs of physiological aging were detected: a significant decrease in brain mass ratio, depletion of liver glycogen stores, accumulation of fluorochromes, development of oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance. EE exposure in the regimen of 2 weeks for 10 min/day exerted a pronounced protective effect predominantly in aged animals: brain mass coefficient increased, glycogen content in hepatocytes rose, fluorochrome content in the liver decreased, superoxide dismutase activity increased, and hormonal profile normalized. Young rats showed no significant changes under EE influence, indicating sufficient intrinsic adaptive reserves at this age. The obtained data demonstrate age-dependent modulation of systemic homeostasis under cognitive-sensory stimulation via mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation and reduction of oxidative damage, opening prospects for developing non-pharmacological strategies to slow aging and maintain functional liver reserve during maturity.
Transduced cardiomyocyte-based constructs provide a promising platform for in vitro modeling cardiac disease and a source of cell products for treating cardiac diseases and, particularly, conduction system disorders. Neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cultures were transduced with a vector carrying a gene for the TBX5 transcription factor, which is involved in controlling the bioelectrical properties of cardiomyocytes. TBX5 overexpression was found to increase the number of functionally active cardiomyocyte clusters in a culture, to enhance their morphological complexity, to stimulate the establishment of a mature pattern of calcium dynamics, to synchronize spontaneous Ca2+ transients, and to facilitate the integration of cell clusters. The findings demonstrate that TBX5 overexpression directs cultured cardiomyocytes toward a phenotype resembling that of the native cardiac conduction system.
A new species of roller, Coracias chauvireae sp. nov., is described from the Lower Pleistocene of the Taurida Cave (central Crimea) based on a complete tarsometatarsus. This is the second finding of the family Coraciidae in the Lower Pleistocene of Eurasia and the oldest for the genus Coracias on the continent. The new species is close to the lineage C. caudatus-C. garrulus, which is of African origin, but apparently diverged earlier than the modern species in this group. The previous assignment of Eurystomus beremendensis Kessler, 2010 from the Lower Pliocene of Hungary to the family Coraciidae is shown to be erroneous, and this taxon is here transferred to the genus Falco. Differentiation of modern subspecies of the European roller (Coracias garrulus garrulus and C. g. semenowi) by size and proportions of the tarsometatarsus is revealed for the first time.
Dopamine is well known to contribute to regulating a wide range of vital functions in various animal taxa, playing an evolutionarily conserved role of a neurohormone and neurotransmitter. Feeding is one of the functions. Its regulation by dopamine in mammals has been demonstrated many times. However, data on the dopamine regulation of feeding in insects are scarce. Dopamine is synthesized from 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA), and the addition of L-DOPA to diet sharply increases the dopamine levels in insects. In this study, L-DOPA administered with food was tested for effects on the food intake, total lipid content, and body weight in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The effects on the parameters were found to be divergent. Higher dopamine levels increased the food intake, but simultaneously decreased the body weight and total lipid content in D. melanogaster adults. Based on the findings, dopamine was concluded to play an important role in regulating both feeding behavior and carbohydrate and fat metabolism in insects, the two regulatory mechanisms being independent of each other.
Fossil remains of a collared lemming (Dicrostonyx) are described for the first time from the Late Pleistocene site of Perspektivnaya Cave (Primorsky krai). Radiocarbon dating places the finds within the MIS 2 period. Morphotype analysis of the first upper molars (M1 and M2) identified the population as Dicrostonyx torquatus. These data refine our understanding of the species' range and chronology, indicating a more southerly distribution and an earlier presence of D. torquatus in the Late Pleistocene than previously recognized.
To assess the flow of organic carbon in a lake ecosystem surrounded by terrestrial vegetation, a mass-balance model was developed based on a concept that interprets vegetation production as a function of heat and moisture. The concept was complemented by a description of the rates of mineralization of vegetation products and removal of released nutrients into the aquatic environment. Biogenic elements and solar radiation initiate the synthesis and biotic flow of organic matter in the aquatic community. The model is designed to predict the biomass and annual production of terrestrial vegetation and key groups of aquatic organisms, including fish, in lake-type systems in the Northern Hemisphere.
The effects of repeated cold stress on physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic processes was studied in Arabidopsis thaliana. An experiment included stages of initial chilling, acclimation, and repeated cold treatment. Repeated cold stress increased electrolyte leakage and decreased the chlorophyll a content, indicating a disruption of the membrane integrity and a restructuring of the photosynthetic apparatus. Expression analysis showed upregulation of the DREB1A, MYC2, COR15A, and COR15B genes, which are associated with the cold response and stress memory formation. Transcription of the flowering regulators FLC, HDA6, and HD2C was altered at the same time to balance adaptation and development. HPLC-MS revealed a significant accumulation of flavonoids, primarily kaempferol and quercetin derivatives, suggesting activation of antioxidant defenses. Taken together, the findings confirmed that repeated cold treatment activates a complex plant adaptation system based on the integration of physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic mechanisms. The formation of stress memory allows A. thaliana to maintain resistance and functional stability during repeated low-temperature exposures.
A new honey badger, Mellivora indosinica sp. nov., is described on the base of an isolated lower carnassial tooth from the Middle Pleistocene deposits of the Tham Hai cave in Northeast Vietnam (Lang Son Province). Judging by tooth measurements, the new species is larger than all known Mellivorini, including the medium-sized Recent Mellivora capensis, but much smaller than the Neogene giant Eomellivorini. This is the only representative of Mellivorinae in Southeast Asia and evidence for the presence of honey badgers in the Pleistocene Stegodon–Ailuropoda fauna.
Cranial materials of the large hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris (Gervais, 1850) from the Early Pleistocene ( 1.8–1.6 Ma) locality in the Taurida cave (Crimea) belong to individuals of different individual ages, from juvenile to senile. The relative facial length of the “short-faced hyena” P. brevirostris has been shown to be greater than that of the recent spotted hyena Crocuta сrocuta (Erxleben, 1777). As P. brevirostris matured, the facial and frontal regions increased significantly in height, and the dorsal profile line of the skull elevated noticeably. New material on P. brevirostris is of great importance for studying the geographical variability and evolution of this widespread species of carnivorous mammals of the Early Pleistocene.
The component composition of aerial parts was studied in six species of the genus Centaurea L. s.l. (C. modesti Fed., C. phyllopoda Iljin, C. gontscharovii Iljin, C. ruthenica Lam., C. scabiosa L., and C. sibirica L.) from Siberia and Central Asia. The species C. modesti, C. phyllopoda, and C. gontscharovii were for the first time studied in this respect. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 24 phenolic compounds were identified, of which 15 were flavonoids and 9 were phenolic acids. Ethyl gallate was identified in all of the species. Avicularin, baicalin, and apigenin were characteristic of all but one Central Asian species, C. gontscharovii. Gallic acid was identified in all species except C. sibirica. Chlorogenic acid was characteristic of all species except C. modestii. Syringin, salipurposide, avicularin, baicalin, and apigenin were found in aerial part extracts of C. ruthenica from Kazakhstan and C. phyllopoda. Dihydromyricitin was identified only in C. ruthenica from Kazachstan. Eriodictyol and ellagic acid were identified only in C. scabiosa; fumaric and salicylic acids, only in C. phyllopoda. The content of phenolic compounds was 0.6–6.7
Cell malignant transformation is accompanied by a remodeling of various cell life-support systems, including calcium signaling. Modulation of the calcium signal can significantly sensitize cancer cells, making them more sensitive to anticancer drugs. A search for selective compounds that influence the cell calcium response is a promising area in the development of combination therapies for oncology diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 4-MPTC on the invasive potential of triple-negative breast cancer cells. 4-MPTC was previously selected as a modulator of the Stim2-dependent calcium entry pathway via a small molecule screening. 4-MPTC was shown to induce a massive calcium release from the intracellular calcium store in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), blocks store-operated calcium entry, and reduces proliferation and migration activity of MDA-MB-468 triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression is one of the most popular tools in functional genomics and plant biotechnology. However, its efficiency and reproducibility depend on multiple factors. Agroinfiltration conditions were optimized comprehensively to enhance the expression level of betalain biosynthetic genes in the model plant Nicotiana tabacum with the use of the RUBY visual reporter system. The effects of bacterial suspension concentration, infiltration buffer composition, and delivery method were evaluated. The highest expression efficiency was achieved with a suspension of OD600 = 1.0; a buffer containing acetosyringone (50 μM), 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) (10 mM), sucrose (0.5
