BACKGROUND:Pesticide residue monitoring is of vital importance in ensuring food safety and promoting public health. In contrast to traditional approaches, colorimetric sensor arrays enable rapid, intuitive, and cost-effective simultaneous detection of multi-pesticides. RESULTS:In this study, we constructed a three-channel colorimetric sensor array based on the catalytic oxidation of various substrates mediated by a synthesized Fe-N/C single-atom nanozyme (Fe-N/C SAN). Distinct color responses and fingerprint-like patterns were generated for six organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), as each pesticide differentially modulated the oxidase-like activity of Fe-N/C SAN. The developed sensor array achieved 100% discrimination of six OPs within a concentration range of 1-100 ng/mL through standard statistical analysis to extract pesticide feature values from extensive signal data, and enabled reliable identification of different concentrations and mixtures. Additionally, by integrating smartphone with RGB analysis, a platform for intelligent and on-site detection of the six OPs in fruit samples was developed. SIGNIFICANCE:The established classification model was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and obtained satisfactory accuracy. The robust recognition performance demonstrated the practical effectiveness of the sensor array.

The grade and geographical origin of green tea significantly influence its quality and market value, yet efficient methods for their differentiation are limited. Catechins, the main polyphenols in green tea, are essential chemical markers for this purpose. This study developed a colorimetric sensor array (CSA) based on boron affinity interaction to identify catechins and green tea rapidly. The sensor employs alizarin red S (ARS) and nine phenylboronic acids with diverse substitutions to achieve specific recognition through boronic acid-catechin binding. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished catechin categories, and quantitative calibration curves validated the sensor's ability to detect catechins in tea. Molecular docking indicated that binding affinity is influenced by electronic effects, steric hindrance, and the specific structure of catechins. Furthermore, machine learning methods including PCA, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and support vector machine (SVM) were combined to classify and analyze green tea samples of varying grades and production regions. The SVM model demonstrated a recognition accuracy of 100% for both tea grades and the origin of LJ, and 95.83% for XHLJ origins. This study introduces an innovative approach to tea quality control and assessment, offering significant scientific and practical implications.

This study comprehensively characterized five representative Zigui navel orange cultivars regarding physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and volatiles. Quality indicators varied among navel orange cultivars (p < 0.05, η2 > 0.78) for all parameters. Newhall Orange (NO) exhibited superiority in content of protein, vitamin C, total soluble solids, soluble sugars, total phenolics, and total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. 14 characteristic quality indicators for Zigui navel oranges were identified through multivariate analyses (correlation analysis, HCA and OPLS-DA) and market-relevant parameters. These indicators were grouped into three principal components through PCA (KMO > 0.6 and Bartlett's test p < 0.05) with eigenvalues >1, accounting for 93.125% of the cumulative variance. A comprehensive quality score was calculated for each cultivar by weighted summation of the standardized values of these 14 indicators, with NO demonstrating the highest score. These findings provide theoretical guidance for nutritional evaluation and processing applications of Zigui navel oranges.

Direct determination of synthetic flavorings in edible oils is frequently hindered by complex lipid matrices. Herein, an alcohol swab microextraction (ASME) strategy was developed for the convenient extraction of maltol, ethyl maltol, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin. Inspired by single-use medical swabs, the ASME device consists of a hollow plastic stick pre-filled with 152 mu L of 65% (v/v) ethanol in water and wrapped with a cotton tip. Upon activation by breaking the pre-marked sealed end, ethanol is released to impregnate the cotton, enabling direct immersion into oil samples for extraction. The swab is subsequently rinsed with 1.5 mL of n-hexane for 30 s, followed by desorption in 0.6 mL of ethanol. Coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet, the proposed method exhibited good linearity (R2 > 0.997), satisfactory recoveries (86.10-114.40%) and high precision (RSDs<7.17%). Five green/practicality assessment metrics confirmed the method's favorable but balanced sustainability profile. Overall, the ASME strategy offers a cost-effective and ready-to-use sample-preparation approach for quality monitoring of lipid-rich food matrices.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are becoming a global issue due to the emergence of superbugs. However, the impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2) on the soil antibiotic resistome remains largely unknown. Here, using a free-air CO2 enrichment platform, we employed high-throughput quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the effect of eCO2 (ambient + 200 ppm) on soil ARGs and bacterial communities in a paddy ecosystem at harvest. The results showed that eCO2 had no significant effect on rice biomass. A LEfSe analysis identified a clear taxonomic shift, with taxa such as c_Clostridia, g_Dehalobacter and g_Syntrophus being significantly enriched under eCO2. The total relative abundance of ARGs increased 1.5-fold under eCO2, driven by a 2.8-fold increase in multidrug resistance genes. The correlation and network analyses revealed that the proliferation of specific potential host bacteria was the primary driver of the observed ARG enrichment under eCO2. Together, this study offers new insights into the eCO2-driven alterations of soil antibiotic resistomes, highlighting the elevated dissemination potential of multidrug resistance genes within paddy ecosystems and their potential implications for food safety.

This study investigated the effects of high-temperature (HT) storage on the quality of three indica rice varieties (Huang Huazhan, Quan You 607, and E Zhong 5). Changes in rice nutrients, gamma-oryzanol content, enzyme activities, oxidative stress, processing quality, and palatability were examined under HT storage. The results indicated that HT storage accelerated decline in peroxidase (POD) activity, palatability, and head rice recovery, but increased fatty acid value, and malondialdehyde content, meanwhile altering moisture and fat contents, lipase (LPS), and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and gamma-oryzanol content. During HT storage, gamma-oryzanol and its four monomer contents exhibited a trend of first significant increase and then a decrease. Huang Huazhan and Quan You 607 varieties exhibited significant H2O2 accumulation from day 20 onward under HT. Correlation analysis revealed that temperature and storage time were key factors deteriorating rice quality. Mechanistically, elevated temperature and prolonged storage increased LOX and LPS activities, which accelerated lipid peroxidation and H2O2 accumulation, aggravated lipid oxidative damage, eventually led to grain quality deterioration. Additionally, HT-induced oxidative stress activated antioxidant defense mechanisms in rice grain, enhancing gamma-oryzanol biosynthesis, whereas POD activity decreased. These findings elucidated the adaptive mechanism of indica rice under HT storage stress.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance Mung bean coat has long been known for its wide-ranging health benefits, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory properties. For many years in China, mung beans have been employed in the therapeutic management of inflammation induced by pathogenic bacteria infection, yet the precise underlying protective mechanisms remain to be comprehensively elucidated. Aim of the Study Given the growing concern over antibiotic resistance, there is a necessity to explore new anti-infective agents. Here, the anti-infective properties of Mung bean coat extract (MBCE) were investigated using a model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected nematodes. Materials and Methods The protective effects of MBCE on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA14) infected nematodes were assessed by lifespan assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, transcriptomics, and Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results MBCE significantly improved the survival rates and reduced ROS levels in infected worms. Transcriptomic profiling disclosed predominant KEGG pathway enrichments in immune responses, energy metabolism processes such as oxidative phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, alongside aging-related neurodegenerative diseases and longevity regulatory pathways like PI3K-AKT, MAPK, mTOR, and FOXO. qRT-PCR validation showed that MBCE upregulated antimicrobial peptides (spp-3, lys-1, lys-7, abf-2, cnc-2, nlp-33, clec-85), gram-negative responses (irg-3, src-2, grd-3, col-179), and mitochondrial function (mev-1) gene expressions, while downregulated insulin signaling-related (age-1, akt-1, akt-2, daf-15) gene expressions. Mutant strains lifespan analysis indicated that the nsy-1, sek-1, pmk-1, daf-2, aak-2, sir-2.1, and skn-1 were necessary for lifespan extension mediated by MBCE under PA14 infection, but not clk-1, isp-1, mev-1, or daf-16. Conclusion Collectively, our findings suggested that MBCE increased the survival rates of PA14-infected worms by activating downstream antimicrobial and antioxidant gene expressions through modulation of MAPK, daf-2, aak-2, sir-2.1, and skn-1 pathways. The research underscored the potential of natural plant compounds to strengthen the body's defenses against infections, potentially mitigating harmful ROS levels and improving survival. Additionally, these findings elucidated the mechanisms by which these plant-derived compounds enhance the immune system, implying their potential utility as dietary supplements or as an alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Given the critical role of tumor redox homeostasis in sustaining malignant growth, simultaneously targeting multiple aspects of intracellular balance may offer a more efficient therapeutic strategy. Herein, a t rimetallic i onic- s ite nanozyme is engineered by integrating A u 3 ⁺, R u 3 ⁺, and C u 2 ⁺ ions into a nanoscale metal-organic framework ( tis-ARC ). The nanozyme is further loaded with gambogic acid (GA) and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and cloaked in tumor cell membranes (tis-ARC-GB@M) to enhance targeting and homologous recognition. The resulting tis-ARC-GB@M exhibited multi-enzyme mimetic catalytic activities that disrupted tumor redox balance by simultaneously amplifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and depleting glutathione (GSH), thereby dismantling the tumor's intrinsic antioxidant defenses. This cascade of events triggered several cell death pathways-including ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and pyroptosis, and released damage-associated biomarker molecules that reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment (TME). Mechanistically, oxidative stress-enhanced ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and pyroptosis collectively disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, which in turn exacerbated intracellular oxidative stress, resulting in a mutually reinforcing therapeutic effect. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that tis-ARC-GB@M significantly suppressed tumor growth in tumor-bearing models. Overall, this approach establishes a novel paradigm for antitumor nanocatalytic therapy through the targeted disruption of intracellular homeostasis.

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are persistent in urban water systems, threatening the safety of drinking water and aquatic food chains. In this study, fluorinated loofah sponge (FLS) was prepared for selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination of 16 PFCs in urban water. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of the established method (FLS-based SPE-LC-MS/MS) were 0.006-5 ng/mL and 0.01-10 ng/mL, respectively. This method exhibited a desirable precision with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 8.83 % and recoveries in the range of 85.4 %-107.2 %. Finally, this method was successfully applied to investigate the distribution of 16 PFCs in real urban water samples (such as tap water, bottled water, and lake water) collected in Wuhan, China, which enables sensitive dynamic monitoring of PFC migration in urban water networks and identification of potential sources so as to safeguard drinking water quality against emerging PFC contamination.

Chloramphenicol is a widely used bactericide and highly effective antibiotic in aquaculture and livestock breeding.To protect human health,detecting chloramphenicol residues in animal-derived food products has become increasingly important.This review introduces the properties of chloramphenicol,the limit standards,and the hazards of residual chloramphenicol in animal-derived food products.Furthermore,it describes commonly used chloramphenicol detection methods.In addition,the review thoroughly analyzes and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different detection methods,outlining methods to improve the efficiency and precision of chloramphenicol detection to ensure the quality and safety of animal-derived food products.Finally,the prospects for developing advanced detection techniques and analytical methods are prospected.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that can cause acute,subacute,and chronic toxicity in humans and animals.Thus,these toxins pose a significant threat to health and safety.Owing to the lack of effective antimold measures in the agricultural industry,feed ingredients such as corn,peanuts,wheat,barley,millet,nuts,oily feed,forage,and their byproducts are prone to mold and mycotoxin contamination,which can affect animal production,product quality,and safety.Cyclopiazonic acid(CPA),which is main-ly biosynthesized from mevalonate,tryptophan,and diacetate units,is a myotoxic secondary me-tabolite produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi.CPA is widely present as a copollutant with aflatoxins in various crops.Compared with some common mycotoxins such as aflatoxins,fumonisins,ochratoxins,zearalenones,and their metabolites,CPA has not been well investiga-ted.In the United States,a survey showed that 51％of corn and 90％of peanut samples contained CPA,with a maximum level of 2.9 mg/kg.In Europe,CPA was found in Penicillium-contamina-ted cheeses as high as 4.0 mg/kg.Some studies have shown that CPA can cause irreversible dam-age to organs such as the liver and spleen in mice.Therefore,the establishment of a rapid and ef-ficient analytical method for CPA is of great significance for the risk assessment of CPA in feeds,the development of standard limits,and the protection of feed product quality and safety.The QuEChERS method,a sample pretreatment method that is fast,simple,cheap,effective,and safe,is widely used in the analysis of pesticide residues in food. In this study,a modified QuEChERS method combined with ultra performance liquid chroma-tography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)was used to determine CPA levels in feeds.The chromatographic separation and MS detection of CPA as well as the key factors affecting the extraction efficiency of CPA,including the type of extraction solvent,type of inorganic salt,and type and dosage of adsorbent,were optimized in detail.During the optimization of the chromato-graphic-separation step,the acid and salt concentrations of the mobile phase affected the separa-tion and detection of CPA.During the optimization of the QuEChERS method,the addition of a certain amount of acetic acid improved the extraction efficiency of CPA because of its acidic na-ture;in addition,GCB and PSA significantly adsorbed CPA from the feed extract.Under optimal conditions,the CPA in the feed sample(1.0 g)was extracted with 2 mL of water and 4 mL of acetonitrile(ACN)containing 0.5％acetic acid.After salting out with 0.4 g of NaCl and 1.6 g of MgSO4,1 mL of the ACN supernatant was purified by dispersive solid-phase extraction using 150 mg of MgSO4 and 50 mg of C18 and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS.The sample was separated on a Waters HSS T3 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm)using 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate aqueous solution with 0.5％formic acid and ACN as the mobile phases and then analyzed by positive elec-trospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode.CPA exhibited good linearity in the range of 2-200 ng/mL,with a high correlation coefficient(r=0.999 5).The limits of detection and quantification of CPA,which were calculated as 3 and 10 times the signal-to-noise ratio,re-spectively,were 0.6 and 2.0 μg/kg,respectively.The average recoveries in feed samples spiked with 10,100,and 500 μg/kg CPA ranged from 70.1％to 78.5％,with an intra-day precision of less than 5.8％and an inter-day precision of less than 7.2％,indicating the good accuracy and precision of the proposed method.Finally,the modified QuEChERS-UPLC-MS/MS method was applied to the analysis of CPA in 10 feed samples obtained from Wuhan market.The analysis re-sults indicated that the developed method has good applicability for CPA analysis in feed samples.In summary,an improved QuEChERS method was applied to the extraction and purification of CPA from feeds for the first time;this method provides a suitable analytical method for the risk monitoring,assessment,and standard-limit setting of CPA in feed samples.

In view of the core–shell nanocomposites can complement the functions of the core and shell components, we here demonstrate a facile self-template strategy for synthesizing a one-dimensional rod-like hierarchical ZnO@ZIF-8 core–shell structure composed of a stabilized core and an active shell. The ZnO nanorods not only served as the template, but also as source of Zn ions for the in situ formation of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystal shell, and the well-stabilized ZnO core preserved its own nature during the growth of the ZIF-8 shell. Furthermore, a sensing platform using ZnO@ZIF-8 as electrocatalyst was developed, which demonstrated salient electrocatalytic activity for diethylstilbestrol (DES) oxidation. The concentration of DES was directly proportional to its anodic peak current in the range of 2 nmol/L to 2 µmol/L, and ultralow detection limit of 0.73 nmol/L ( S/ N = 3) was achieved. The proposed method also gave excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and stability, showing promising analytical performance for the measurement of DES in food samples of animal origin.

A novel co-bonded octyl and pyridine silica (OPS) sorbent was prepared and applied for the solid phase extraction (SPE) of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, a type of mycotoxin) in feed and agricultural products for the first time. A simple mixed-ligand one-pot reaction strategy was employed for OPS sorbent preparation. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, elemental analysis (EI), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis demonstrated the successful immobilization of octyl and quaternary ammonium groups onto the surface of silica gel. The large specific surface area, high-density functional groups, and mixed-mode anion-exchange characteristics of these silica particles made them the ideal material for the efficient extraction of CPA. Additionally, the OPS sorbents displayed excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility, satisfactory reusability, and low cost. The SPE parameters were optimized to explore the ionic and hydrophobic interactions between CPA and the functional groups, and the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) parameters were optimized to obtain a desirable extraction efficiency and high sensitivity to CPA. Meanwhile, the OPS sorbent presented a satisfactory extraction selectivity and low matrix effect. Under the optimized conditions, our developed CPA detection method was used to determine CPA level in rice, wheat flour, corn flour, peanut, and feed samples, exhibiting a lower detection limit, better linearity, higher sensitivity, and satisfactory extraction recovery rate than previously reported methods. Therefore, our method can be preferentially used as a method for the detection of CPA in agricultural products and feeds.

Herein, a dual-emission Eu metal-organic framework (Eu-MOF) is prepared and used as the ratiometric fluorescence probe for ultrasensitive detection of aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGs). Due to the strong hydrogen bond interactions between AGs and Eu-MOF, the blue emission is enhanced while the red emission has little fluctuation in Eu-MOF with the addition of AGs, thus a good linear relationship with the logarithm of AGs concentrations from 0.001 to 100 μg/mL can be established for quantitative analysis. Good sensitivity with the detection limit of 0.33 ng/mL for apramycin, 0.32 ng/mL for amikacin and 0.30 ng/mL for kanamycin is achieved. The proposed assay demonstrates good selectivity and applicability for determination of AGs in real milk and honey samples. The Eu-MOF materials are further fabricated as fluorescent test papers for facile visual detection. The as-established ratio fluorescence platform offers a portable and economical way for rapid monitoring AGs residues in complex food samples.

Highly stable and photoluminescent methylammonium lead halide perovskite quantum dots (MAPbBr(3) PQDs) have been synthesized and applied for the fluorescence quenching detection of clothianidin in fruit and vegetable samples. Characterizations using different techniques, including photoluminescence (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-resolved PL (TRPL), show that static quenching is the dominant fluorescence quenching mechanism of MAPbBr(3) PQDs with clothianidin. Hydrogen bonds or van der Waals forces play major roles in the MAPbBr(3) PQDs-clothianidin interaction. Under optimized conditions, the relative PL intensity of MAPbBr(3) PQDs is linear to the concentration of clothianidin in the 0.0 and 20.0 mg/L range with a detection limit of 0.17 mu g/kg. Excellent recoveries of 79.5-115.4% were acquired for radish and banana samples with a relative standard deviation below 9.4%. These results indicate that PQDs can be used for qualitative and quantitative identification of clothianidin, providing an effective detection method for risk prevention and control of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in agricultural products.

A new method for the rapid detection of neonicotinoid pesticides based on metal halide perovskite quan-tum dot fluorescent probes was constructed by taking neonicotinoid pesticides as the target and combining fluores-cence sensing strategies.The linear detection range of the method was 0-20 mg/L,the linear correlation coefficient was 0.993 9,the detection limit was 0.17 mg/kg.The recovery rate of clothianidin spiked in banana and radish sam-ples was 79.3%-115.4%,and the relative standard deviation was less than 9.4%.This method has high sensitivi-ty,high selectivity and applicability,and provides an effective detection technology for the risk prevention and con-trol of clothianidin in agricultural products and food.The interaction between clothianidin and perovskite quantum dots was studied.The results showed that the interaction between perovskite quantum dots and clothianidin was a dy-namic process,and the fluorescence quenching of clothianidin to perovskite quantum dots was static quenching of new complexes formed by hydrogen bonds or van der Waals forces.Its content can be used as the technical basis of other spectral analysis methods,and its analysis and detection results can provide valuable suggestions for the safety supervision of fruits and vegetables.

The industrialization of animal agriculture has undoubtedly contributed to the improvement of human well-being by increasing the efficiency of food animal production. At the same time, it has also drastically impacted the natural environment and human society. The One Health initiative emphasizes the interdependency of the health of ecosystems, animals, and humans. In this paper, we discuss some of the most profound consequences of animal agriculture practices from a One Health perspective. More specifically, we focus on impacts to host-microbe interactions by elaborating on how modern animal agriculture affects zoonotic infections, specifically those of bacterial origin, and the concomitant emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A key question underlying these deeply interconnected issues is how to better prevent, monitor, and manage infections in animal agriculture. To address this, we outline approaches to mitigate the impacts of agricultural bacterial zoonoses and AMR, including the development of novel treatments as well as non-drug approaches comprising integrated surveillance programs and policy and education regarding agricultural practices and antimicrobial stewardship. Finally, we touch upon additional major environmental and health factors impacted by animal agriculture within the One Health context, including animal welfare, food security, food safety, and climate change. Charting how these issues are interwoven to comprise the complex web of animal agriculture's broad impacts on One Health will allow for the development of concerted, multidisciplinary interventions which are truly necessary to tackle these issues from a One Health perspective.

The farming pattern of crayfish significantly impacts their quality, safety, and nutrition. Typically, green and ecologically friendly products command higher economic value and market competitiveness. Consequently, intensive farming methods are frequently employed in an attempt to replace these environmentally friendly products, leading to potential instances of commercial fraud. In this study, stable isotope and multi-element analysis were utilized in conjunction with multivariate modeling to differentiate between pond-intensive, paddy-ecologically, and free-range cultured crayfish. The four stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H, δ18O) and 20 elements from 88 crayfish samples and their feeds were determined for variance analysis and correlation analysis. To identify and differentiate three different farming pattern crayfish, unsupervised methods such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used, as well as supervised multivariate modeling, specifically partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The HCA and PCA exhibited limited effectiveness in classifying the farming pattern of crayfish, whereas the PLS-DA demonstrated a more robust performance with a predictive accuracy of 90.8%. Additionally, variables such as δ13C, δ15N, δ2H, Mn, and Co exhibited relatively higher contributions in the PLS-DA model, with a variable influence on projection (VIP) greater than 1. This study is the first attempt to use stable isotope and multi-element analysis to distinguish crayfish under three farming patterns. It holds promising potential as an effective strategy for crayfish authentication.

Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are commonly occurring heavy metals in the environment and produce detrimental impacts on the central nervous system. Although they have both been indicated to exhibit neurotoxic properties, it is not known if they have joint effects, and their mechanisms of action are likewise unknown. In this study, zebrafish were exposed to different concentrations of Pb (40 μg/L, 4 mg/L), As (32 μg/L, 3.2 mg/L) and their combinations (40 μg/L + 32 μg/L, 4 mg/L + 3.2 mg/L) for 30 days. The histopathological analyses showed significant brain damage characterized by glial scar formation and ventricular enlargement in all exposed groups. In addition, either Pb or As staining inhibited the swimming speed of zebrafish, which was enhanced by their high concentrations in a mixture. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we examined changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, neurotransmitter (dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine) levels, HPI axis-related hormone (cortisol and epinephrine) contents and neurodevelopment-related gene expression in zebrafish brain. The observations suggest that combined exposure to Pb and As can cause abnormalities in swimming behavior and ultimately exacerbate neurotoxicity in zebrafish by interfering with the cholinergic system, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling, HPI axis function as well as neuronal development. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the mixed exposure of heavy metals and their toxicity to aquatic organisms.

The aim of this study was to explore the underlying mechanism of adverse effects caused by tebuconazole (TEB) on the reproduction of aquatic organisms In the present study, in order to explore the effects of TEB on reproduction, four-month-old zebrafish were exposed to TEB (0, DMSO, 0.4 mg/L, 0.8 mg/L, and 1.6 mg/L) for 21 days. After exposure, the accumulations of TEB in gonads were observed and the cumulative egg production was evidently decreased. The decline of fertilization rate in F1 embryos was also observed. Then the changes in sperm motility and histomorphology of gonads were discovered, evaluating that TEB had adverse effects on gonadal development. Additionally, we also found the alternations of social behavior, 17β-estradiol (E2) level, and testosterone (T) level. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and social behavior were remarkably altered. Taken together, it could be concluded that TEB affected the egg production and fertilization rate by interfering with gonadal development, sex hormone secretion, and social behavior, which were eventually attributed to the disruption of the expressions of genes associated with the HPG axis and social behavior. This study provides a new perspective to understanding the mechanism of TEB-induced reproductive toxicity.