This study investigated the effects of liquid Ascophyllum nodosum (ASC) extracts on feed degradability, ruminal fermentation, total gas and methane (CH4) production using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Two experiments were conducted: Experiment 1 assessed a grass-based diet with an ASC extract included at 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% of dry matter (DM), while Experiment 2 evaluated a grass silage-based diet with an ASC extract included at 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% of DM. Both diets included a control treatment (CTR; no seaweed extract). In Experiment 1, the 0.3% treatment reduced CH4 production relative to CTR, primarily by decreasing nutrient degradation and total volatile fatty acid production, resulting in reductions of 20% for total gas, 34% for CH4 (mmol/d) and 30% for CH4 (mmol/g of digestible organic matter; DOM). Metabolic hydrogen produced and incorporated were also reduced. In Experiment 2, the 0.5% treatment decreased DM and organic matter degradation compared to CTR, with no effects on crude protein or neutral detergent fibre degradation, or rumen fermentation parameters. Despite this, all ASC extract treatments reduced total gas by 20-24%, CH4 (mmol/d) by 23-26% and CH4 (mmol/g DOM) by 21-29% relative to CTR. Metabolic hydrogen recovery decreased by 22% across all ASC extract treatments, suggesting other mechanisms were at play redirecting hydrogen away from methanogenesis. These findings highlight the potential of ASC extract as a natural CH4-mitigating feed additive under controlled fermentation conditions, supporting the development of more sustainable ruminant production systems.

This study evaluated the effects of an Ascophyllum nodosum (ASC) extract delivered via a water-based system on animal performance, rumen microbiota, fermentation, and methane (CH4) emissions in beef steers. Thirty dairy-beef steers were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments (n = 15) for a 70-d period. Treatments consisted of either ad libitum zero-grazed grass (CTR; no extract) or ad libitum zero-grazed grass plus an ASC extract (ASCE) supplemented at 1.5 % of dry matter intake (DMI), administered via a water-based system. Additionally, all steers were offered a maximum of 1.4 kg/d of concentrate. Methane was measured throughout the study using the GreenFeed emissions monitoring system (GEM). A feed intake estimation period was conducted during week 5 and 10, while rumen fluid samples were collected on d-33 and d-68 for rumen microbiota and fermentation analysis. There was no difference between treatments for total DMI, average daily gain (ADG), or diet digestibility. Methane production was similar between treatments, averaging 206.6 g/d for CTR and 204.6 g/d for ASCE. Methane yield (g/kg DMI) and intensity (g/kg ADG) were also unaffected, averaging 24.8 g/kg DMI and 130.8 g/kg ADG, respectively. The proportion of butyrate was lower, and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration was higher in ASCE-treated steers. Microbial abundances were unaffected, with Bacteroidota (51 %) and Firmicutes (38.3 %) being the most abundant phyla across both treatments. In

IntroductionGrapevine is highly susceptible to fungal diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew, which are traditionally managed through the intensive use of chemical fungicides. However, in the context of increasingly sustainable viticulture, biofungicides derived from plant and yeast extracts are gaining attention. Despite this, their impact on the grapevine leaf microbiome, crucial for plant health and disease resilience, remains underexplored.Material and methodsThis study evaluated the effects of foliar applications of biofungicides (nettle extract, Japanese knotweed extract, and a yeast-based formulation - T66 and T90) in comparison with conventional chemical treatments and control (no treatment). Over two consecutive growing seasons, high-throughput sequencing was used to assess the diversity and composition of fungal and bacterial communities on grapevine leaves.ResultsBacterial communities were more sensitive to treatments and interannual variability than fungal communities, which remained relatively stable. Conventional treatment (CT) showed the highest influence on fungal and bacterial composition, reducing the diversity of both. Some important fungal (Aureobasidium and Sporobolomyces) and bacterial (Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas) genera associated with the promotion of plant growth, health, and biocontrol were detected.DiscussionThese findings reinforce the potential of new treatments with putative fungicide effects to modulate the leaf microbiome, particularly bacterial communities, without disrupting the natural fungal balance. Thus highlight their relevance for developing sustainable viticultural practices aimed at improving plant protection.

Bacillus species have demonstrated beneficial effects on intestinal health, production parameters, and immune function in poultry under both standard and disease-challenged conditions. Previously, we found that several novel ingredients (beta-glucan, vegetable protein hydrolysate, and liquid seaweed extract) demonstrated growth stimulation effects on Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus plantarum, Here, we extended this approach to examine in vitro synbiotic combinations of five novel marine-derived candidate probiotic Bacillus strains to assess their potential for in ovo applications. Beta-glucan enhanced the growth of all candidate Bacillus probiotic strains compared to a glucose control (p ≤ 0.05), suggesting a broad-spectrum modulatory role over a 24-h period, with variable magnitudes of response observed between strains. Species specificity was also observed, with lentinus stimulating the Bacillus pumilus but not the Bacillus altitudinis strains. A seaweed extract consistently stimulated the growth of one of the B. altitudinis strains (p ≤ 0.05), which, like all of the strains evaluated here, is seaweed-derived. This suggests potential ecological adaptation in substrate utilization. The shared environmental origin may influence substrate specificity and metabolic complementarity between strains and prebiotic candidates. Both B. altitudinis strains also exhibited enhanced growth at almost all time points (p ≤ 0.05) when cultured with vegetable protein hydrolysate. Based on these findings, we evaluated the effect of a potential synbiotic formulation comprising one of the B. altitudinis strains and vegetable protein hydrolysate in chickens, in ovo. The components were administered intra-amniotically at embryonic development day 18.5, utilizing a standard vaccination protocol. The hatchability of the chickens was not affected, thereby demonstrating the established dose as safe and applicable for further investigation. • Shared origin of bioactive compounds may enhance probiotic-prebiotic compatibility in vitro • Protein hydrolysate offers a novel alternative to carbohydrate prebiotics • In ovo delivery of Bacillus-based synbiotic formulations offers potential as an early microbiome programming strategy

Strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is highly sensitive to water deficits, necessitating strategies to enhance irrigation efficiency while maintaining crop productivity and fruit quality. This study evaluated the effects of different irrigation regimes (30 %, 30-70 %, and 70 % of field capacity) and pre-harvest applications of two seaweed-based biostimulants ( Ascophyllum nodosum extracts) on strawberry growth, physiology, and fruit quality. The treatments involved foliar applications every 15 days throughout the vegetative and productive phases. Key physiological parameters, including gas exchange, electrolyte leakage, and photosynthetic pigments, were assessed in leaves, alongside biochemical analyses of fruit composition, such as phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. The application of A. nodosum-based biostimulants demonstrated significant benefits in strawberry plants under water stress conditions. Physiological attributes such as gas exchange, relative water content, and total carotenoids were improved, while electrolyte leakage was reduced. Biochemical parameters of the fruits, including antioxidant activity and concentrations of phenolic, flavonoid, and ortho-diphenol compounds, were positively influenced. Fresh fruit weight and diameter were also enhanced, particularly with the application of N19-67 under water deficit conditions, which increased fruit weight. Meanwhile, N19-68 promoted higher phenolic and antioxidant compounds under optimal water conditions. At the end of the experiment, plant growth analysis further confirmed the efficacy of these biostimulants, which showed a significant level of specificity depending on application rates and stress levels. These findings underscore the potential of A. nodosum-based biostimulants as effective tools for mitigating water stress effects and improving both physiological and quality parameters in strawberry cultivation.

Modern fruit crop production increasingly seeks sustainable strategies to enhance growth, yield, and fruit quality while minimizing environmental impacts. Plant biostimulants—naturally derived substances or beneficial microorganisms, such as seaweed and plant extracts, Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), humic substances, protein hydrolysates, and Si—emerge as promising tools to achieve these goals by stimulating key physiological and biochemical processes. They can improve nutrient uptake and efficiency, modulate hormonal and metabolic pathways, and enhance the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, leading to improved plant vitality and fruit quality. Biostimulants also influence rhizosphere microbial communities and soil health, promoting nutrient cycling, beneficial microbial diversity, and soil structure. This review evaluates the application of biostimulants in fruit crops and their effects on growth, physiology, productivity, fruit quality, both chemical and nutritional composition and physical parameters. Challenges related to variability in efficacy, formulation standardization, and crop-specific responses are discussed, alongside future perspectives on integrating biostimulants into sustainable orchard management. Overall, biostimulants represent multifunctional tools that support both productivity and ecological sustainability in modern fruit production systems.

The use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in poultry diets beneficially stimulates the gut microbiome thus promoting the health and welfare of the animals. In this study, we analyzed 7 poultry probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum - B1 and B4, Lactobacillus rhamnosus - B3, Bifidobacterium lactis - B2, Carnobacterium divergens - B5, Propionibacterium thoenii - B6, Clostridium butyricum - B7) and 12 prebiotics, differing in chemical composition and source of origin (fungi, algae, animal, etc.). The main goal of our research was to select the most promising candidates to develop synbiotic combinations. We determined the growth kinetics of all probiotics in the presence of prebiotics in a series of in vitro studies to select optimal combinations. Five out of seven investigated probiotics were significantly stimulated by astragalus polysaccharide, and this prebiotic was characterized in our work as the most effective. Moreover, in the case of three probiotics, B2, B3 and B4, significant growth stimulation has been found when beta-glucan, vegetable protein hydrolysate and liquid seaweed extract were supplied. Strain B1 (L. plantarum) was stimulated by 6 out of 12 prebiotics. The growth of B4 (L. plantarum) and B2 (B. lactis) was enhanced by prebiotics after 2 h of incubation. A high growth rate of 3.13% was observed in the case of L. plantarum (B4) and a 3.37% higher rate for B. lactis (B3), compared to the growth of probiotics in the control medium with glucose but no prebiotics. The best candidates for synbiotic combinations based on this in vitro work are the strains belonging to L. plantarum (B4), L. rhamnosus (B3) and B. lactis (B2), consistent with prebiotics such as astragalus polysaccharides and vegetable protein hydrolysate. These combinations will be subject to future in vivo poultry trials involving the in ovo microbiome modulation.

Natural biostimulants, such as seaweed extracts, can stimulate plant growth and development in both model and crop plants. Due to the increasing demands for their use in agriculture, it is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the sources from which they are produced. Furthermore, some seaweed extracts were recently shown to prime and protect from adverse environmental factors such as drought, salinity and extreme temperatures, as well as from oxidative stress. The molecular mode of action of these biostimulants has still not been fully elucidated, but there has been significant progress in this direction in the last years. Firstly, this review examines the sustainability aspects of harvesting seaweed resources as raw materials for manufacturing biostimulants and provides an overview of the regulatory landscape pertaining to seaweed-based biostimulants. The review then summarises the recent advances in determining the genetic and molecular mechanisms activated by seaweed-based biostimulants, their influence on transcriptome reconfiguration, metabolite adjustment, and ultimately stress protection, improved nutrient uptake, and plant growth and performance. This knowledge is important for deciphering the intricate stress signalling network modulated by seaweed-based biostimulants and can aid in designing molecular priming technologies for crop improvement.

As the world develops and population increases, so too does the demand for higher agricultural output with lower resources. Plant biostimulants appear to be one of the more prominent sustainable solutions, given their natural origin and their potential to substitute conventional methods in agriculture. Classified based on their source rather than constitution, biostimulants such as humic substances (HS), protein hydrolysates (PHs), seaweed extracts (SWE) and microorganisms have a proven potential in improving plant growth, increasing crop production and quality, as well as ameliorating stress effects. However, the multi-molecular nature and varying composition of commercially available biostimulants presents challenges when attempting to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. While most research has focused on the broad effects of biostimulants in crops, recent studies at the molecular level have started to unravel the pathways triggered by certain products at the cellular and gene level. Understanding the molecular influences involved could lead to further refinement of these treatments. This review comprises the most recent findings regarding the use of biostimulants in plants, with particular focus on reports of their molecular influence.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health problem affecting nearly 25.9% of the world population characterised by a cluster of disorders dominated by abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, hypertriacylglycerolaemia and low HDL-cholesterol. In recent years, marine organisms, especially seaweeds, have been highlighted as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds and useful metabolites, with many biological and physiological activities to be used in functional foods or in human nutraceuticals for the management of MetS and related disorders. Of the three groups of seaweeds, brown seaweeds are known to contain more bioactive components than either red and green seaweeds. Among the different brown seaweed species, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus have the highest antioxidant values and highest total phenolic content. However, the evidence base relies mainly on cell line and small animal models, with few studies to date involving humans. This review intends to provide an overview of the potential of brown seaweed extracts Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus for the management and prevention of MetS and related conditions, based on the available evidence obtained from clinical trials.

Abiotic stresses, which at the molecular level leads to oxidative damage, are major determinants of crop yield loss worldwide. Therefore, considerable efforts are directed towards developing strategies for their limitation and mitigation. Here the superoxide-inducing agent paraquat (PQ) was used to generate oxidative stress in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana and the crops tomato and pepper. Pre-treatment with the biostimulant SuperFifty (SF) effectively and universally suppressed PQ-induced leaf lesions, H2O2 build up, cell destruction and photosynthesis inhibition. To further investigate the stress responses and SF-induced protection at the molecular level, we investigated the metabolites by GC-MS metabolomics. PQ induced specific metabolic changes such as accumulation of free amino acids (AA) and stress metabolites. These changes were fully prevented by the SF pre-treatment. Moreover, the metabolic changes of the specific groups were tightly correlating with their phenotypic characteristics. Overall, this study presents physiological and metabolomics data which shows that SF protects against oxidative stress in all three plant species.

Abiotic stresses cause oxidative damage in plants. Here, we demonstrate that foliar application of an extract from the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, SuperFifty (SF), largely prevents paraquat (PQ)-induced oxidative stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. While PQ-stressed plants develop necrotic lesions, plants pre-treated with SF (i.e., primed plants) were unaffected by PQ. Transcriptome analysis revealed induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) marker genes, genes involved in ROS-induced programmed cell death, and autophagy-related genes after PQ treatment. These changes did not occur in PQ-stressed plants primed with SF. In contrast, upregulation of several carbohydrate metabolism genes, growth, and hormone signaling as well as antioxidant-related genes were specific to SF-primed plants. Metabolomic analyses revealed accumulation of the stress-protective metabolite maltose and the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates fumarate and malate in SF-primed plants. Lipidome analysis indicated that those lipids associated with oxidative stress-induced cell death and chloroplast degradation, such as triacylglycerols (TAGs), declined upon SF priming. Our study demonstrated that SF confers tolerance to PQ-induced oxidative stress in A. thaliana, an effect achieved by modulating a range of processes at the transcriptomic, metabolic, and lipid levels.

Type II diabetes is a multifactorial disease with a complex etiology. Numerous genes have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. In particular, SNPs at the TCF7L2 locus have consistently shown strong associations with type II diabetes. This study characterizes the global distribution of type II diabetes-associated TCF7L2 SNPs utilizing HapMap, HGDP–CEPH, and Alfred databases and the literature. High frequencies of rs7903146(T), rs12255372(T), and rs7901695(C) SNPs are observed in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, but they are reduced and almost absent in Southeast Asian and Native American populations. In contrast, rs11196218(A) has the highest frequency in Eurasia but is reduced in sub-Saharan African and Native American populations. Regional variations in rs7903146(T) follow a gradient of decreasing frequency from southern into northeastern Europe. These findings demonstrate extensive global and regional variations in the frequencies of TCF7L2 SNPs, which may contribute to differences in the incidence of type II diabetes worldwide.

Scientific understanding of the genetic components of aging has increased in recent years, with several genes being identified as playing roles in the aging process and, potentially, longevity. In particular, genes encoding components of the nuclear lamina in eukaryotes have been increasingly well characterized, owing in part to their clinical significance in age-related diseases. This review focuses on one such gene, which encodes lamin A, a key component of the nuclear lamina. Genetic variation in this gene can give rise to lethal, early-onset diseases known as laminopathies. Here, we analyze the literature and conduct computational analyses of lamin A signaling and intracellular interactions in order to examine potential mechanisms for altering or slowing down aberrant Lamin A expression and/or for restoring the ratio of normal to aberrant lamin A. The ultimate goal of such studies is to ameliorate or combat laminopathies and related diseases of aging, and we provide a discussion of current approaches in this review.

Hepatitis C is a common infection with significant morbidity and mortality, and only a minority of patients successfully clear the infection. Identification of factors that influence disease progression in HCV infection is difficult owing to the lack of well-defined patient cohorts. However, recent evidence supports a role for the innate immune system in virus clearance. In this study, we investigated innate immune genes for their contribution to disease progression in a unique cohort of well-controlled HCV-infected patients. The Irish cohort of HCV patients is uniquely homogenous; patients were infected with a single genotype of HCV from contaminated anti-D Ig. We genotyped 543 infected patients, including 247 patients who spontaneously resolved infection, for natural killer (NK) cell-associated killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR) genes and the recently reported IL28B (IFNλ3) SNP. The NK cell gene KIR2DS3 was significantly increased in patients with chronic infection [odds ratio (OR) 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–2.90, P < 0.002]. The IL28B “T” allele was also significantly increased in chronically infected patients (OR 7.38, 95% CI 4.93–11.07, P < 10 −8 ). The presence of both markers synergized to significantly increase the risk of chronic infection over either factor alone (OR 20.11, 95% CI 9.05–44.68, P < 10 −7 ). In functional experiments, we found that IL28A significantly inhibited IFN-γ production by NK cells. Thus, we demonstrate a functional link between NK cells and type 3 IFN. Our findings may contribute to the development of a prognostic test for HCV and identify therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of HCV-infected patients.

NK cells express both inhibitory and activatory receptors that allow them to recognize target cells through HLA class I Ag expression. KIR3DL1 is a receptor that recognizes the HLA-Bw4 public epitope of HLA-B alleles. We demonstrate that polymorphism within the KIR3DL1 receptor has functional consequences in terms of NK cell recognition of target. Inhibitory alleles of KIR3DL1 differ in their ability to recognize HLA-Bw4 ligand, and a consistent hierarchy of ligand reactivity can be defined. KIR3DS1, which segregates as an allele of KIR3DL1, has a short cytoplasmic tail characteristic of activatory receptors. Because it is very similar to KIR3DL1 in the extracellular domains, it has been assumed that KIR3DS1 will recognize a HLA-Bw4 ligand. In this study, we demonstrate that KIR3DS1 is expressed as a protein at the cell surface of NK cells, where it is recognized by the Z27 Ab. Using this Ab, we found that KIR3DS1 is expressed on a higher percentage of NK cells in KIR3DS1 homozygous compared with heterozygous donors. In contrast to the inhibitory KIR3DL1 allotypes, KIR3DS1 did not recognize HLA-Bw4 on EBV-transformed cell lines.