Amino Acid Metabolic Pathways Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Circulating Metabolomic Profiles Identifies Shared Metabolic Alterations Across Distinct Multi-Stressor Military Training Operations.

Military training provides insight into metabolic responses under unique physiological demands that can be comprehensively characterized by global metabolomic profiling to identify potential strategies for improving performance. This study identified shared changes in metabolomic profiles across three distinct military training exercises varying in magnitude and types of stress. Blood samples collected before and after three real or simulated military training exercises were analyzed using the same untargeted metabolomic profiling platform. Exercises included a three-week survival school course (ST, n=36), a four-day arctic cross country ski march (AT, n=24), and a 28-day controlled diet- and exercise-induced energy deficit (CED, n=26). Log2-fold changes of >±1 in 191, 121 and 64 metabolites were identified in the ST, AT and CED datasets, respectively. Most metabolite changes were within lipid (57-63%) and amino acid metabolism (18-19%) pathways, and changes in 87 were shared across studies. The largest and most consistent increases in shared metabolites were found in acylcarnitine, fatty acid, ketone, and glutathione metabolism pathways, whereas the largest decreases were in diacylglycerol and urea cycle metabolism pathways. Multiple shared metabolites were consistently correlated with biomarkers of inflammation, tissue damage, and anabolic hormones across studies. These three studies of real and simulated military training revealed overlapping alterations in metabolomic profiles despite differences in environment and the stressors involved. Consistent changes in metabolites related to lipid metabolism, ketogenesis and oxidative stress suggest a potential common metabolomic signature associated with inflammation, tissue damage and suppression of anabolic signaling that may characterize unique physiological demands of military training.

Comparative metabolomics study on the quality of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) stored at different temperatures

SummaryIn this study, the effect of short‐term storage at different temperatures (0, 4 and −8 °C) on the quality of Antarctic krill was investigated using the main quality indicators as a reference, combined with electronic nose and untargeted metabolomics. Antarctic krill stored at lower temperatures (−8 °C) were of better quality and had a flavour similar to that of the original Antarctic krill. Metabolomics analyses showed that differential metabolites (DMS) were more abundant in Antarctic krill at higher temperatures (4 °C), with sixty‐five metabolites having reduced expression and forty‐five metabolites having increased expression; Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that amino acid metabolism and nucleotide metabolism pathways were the Five DMS, including α‐ketoglutarate, glutamate, succinate, sucrose and glutarate, can be used as potential biomarkers to monitor quality changes during short‐term storage of Antarctic krill. In addition, the association between quality indicators and differential metabolites remains to be explored.

[Effect of Polyethylene Microplastics on the Microbial Community of Saline Soils].

Mulching to conserve moisture has become an important agronomic practice in saline soil cultivation, and the effects of the dual stress of salinity and microplastics on soil microbes are receiving increasing attention. In order to investigate the effect of polyethylene microplastics on the microbial community of salinized soils, this study investigated the effects of different types (chloride and sulphate) and concentrations (weak, medium, and strong) of polyethylene (PE) microplastics (1% and 4% of the dry weight mass of the soil sample) on the soil microbial community by simulating microplastic contamination in salinized soil environments indoors. The results showed that:PE microplastics reduced the diversity and abundance of microbial communities in salinized soils and were more strongly affected by sulphate saline soil treatments. The relative abundance of each group of bacteria was more strongly changed in the sulphate saline soil treatment than in the chloride saline soil treatment. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was positively correlated with the abundance of fugitive PE microplastics, whereas the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteria were negatively correlated with the abundance of fugitive PE microplastics. At the family level, the relative abundances of Flavobacteriaceae, Alcanivoracaceae, Halomonadaceae, and Sphingomonasceae increased with increasing abundance of PE microplastics. The KEGG metabolic pathway prediction showed that the relative abundance of microbial metabolism and genetic information functions were reduced by the presence of PE microplastics, and the inhibition of metabolic functions was stronger in sulphate saline soils than in chloride saline soils, whereas the inhibition of genetic information functions was weaker than that in chloride saline soils. The secondary metabolic pathways of amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism were inhibited. It was hypothesized that the reduction in metabolic functions may have been caused by the reduced relative abundance of the above-mentioned secondary metabolic pathways. This study may provide a theoretical basis for the study of the effects of microplastics and salinization on the soil environment under the dual pollution conditions.

Antimicrobial mechanism of linalool against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its application in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a seafood-derived pathogen that poses a serious threat to seafood and human health. Biofilm production is a necessary process for V. parahaemolyticus to colonize the host and release virulence factors. Therefore, preventing biofilm formation or eliminating biofilm cells is an effective strategy to combat V. parahaemolyticus infection. Linalool is a food additive of natural origin with excellent antibacterial activity. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects of linalool against V. parahaemolyticus and elucidated its mechanism through metabolomics analysis. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of linalool against V. parahaemolyticus is 1.7 mg/mL. The treatment with linalool disrupted the integrity of the cell membrane, resulting in the leakage of nucleic acids and proteins, impaired motility, and reduced release of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). The metabolomics results revealed that linalool perturbed the metabolic pathways of amino acids and nucleic acids in V. parahaemolyticus, thereby impeding biofilm production. Moreover, linalool significantly inactivated V. parahaemolyticus in black tiger shrimp. These findings have practical implications for the utilization of linalool in controlling bacterial contamination in seafood and enhancing food safety.

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Possible Reasons for the Change of Ni Resistance in Rhus typhina after Spraying Melatonin

Melatonin (MT) plays an important role in alleviating the stress of soil heavy metal pollution on plants. However, its ability to improve the tolerance of Rhus typhina to Ni stress and its mechanism of action are still unclear. Therefore, MT (0, 50, 100, and 200 μmol·L−1) was sprayed on the leaf surface of R. typhina seedlings under Ni (0 and 250 mg·kg−1) stress to study the differences in growth, physiology, and gene expression. The results showed that exogenous MT could improve the ability of R. typhina to resist Ni stress by inhibiting the degradation of chlorophyll and carotenoid, enhancing photosynthesis, and augmenting the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, 100 μmol·L−1 MT could increase the Ni concentration in R. typhina seedlings and reduce the translocation factor. Transcriptome analysis showed that MT mainly regulated the expression of related genes in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and various amino acid metabolism pathways. This study combined physiological and transcriptomic analysis to reveal the molecular mechanism of MT enhancing Ni resistance in R. typhina, and provides a new direction for expanding its application in phytoremediation.

Effects of polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics on the physiology and metabolic profiles of dandelion

Biodegradable plastics, such as poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), are potential alternatives to conventional polyethylene (PE), both of which are associated with the production of microplastics (MPs). However, the toxicity of these compounds on medicinal plants and their differential effects on plant morphophysiology remain unclear. This study supplemented soils with MPs sized at 200 μm at a rate of 1% w/w and incubated them for 50 days to investigate the impact of MPs on the growth and metabolites of dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.). The results demonstrated that the investigated MPs decreased the growth of dandelion seedlings, induced oxidative stress, and altered the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase). Based on the comprehensive toxicity assessment results, the ecological toxicity was in the following order: PE MPs > PBAT MPs > PLA MPs. Metabolomics analyses revealed metabolic reprogramming in dandelion plants, leading to the enrichment of numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the leaves. These pathways include carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, suggesting that dandelions respond to MP stress by enhancing the activity of sugar, organic acid, and amino acid metabolic pathways. In addition, phenolic acids and flavonoids are critical for maintaining the balance in the antioxidant defense system. Our results provide substantial insights into the toxicity of biodegradable MPs to plants and shed light on plant defense and adaptation strategies. Further assessment of the safety of biodegradable MPs in terrestrial ecosystems is essential to provide guidance for environmentally friendly management.

Long-term thermal stress induces hepatic injury and alters the thermotolerance response in Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus)

Global climate change has a significant impact on fish survival and the aquaculture industry. Even highly adaptable organisms like Siluriformes fish are susceptible to these effects. This study investigates the consequences of extreme high temperature on Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus), a species known for its long-term habitation in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, C. fuscus were cultivated for 90 days at high temperature (HT, 34 °C) and normal temperature (NT, 26 °C), followed by subjecting the two groups to high temperature stress (34 °C) and temperature recovery (26 °C). The hepatic histology, biochemical, and transcriptomic characteristics of the species were examined before acute high temperature stress (NT-C, HT-C), after acute high temperature stress (NT-T, HT-T), and after temperature recovery (NT-R, HT-R). The histological analysis revealed that long-term heat stress damaged the liver tissue of C. fuscus. Furthermore, significant damage was observed in the liver tissues of the NT group under acute high temperature stress, while no further damage was observed in the HT group. The biochemical analysis showed that 90 days of heat stress altered the body's immune and oxidative balance, resulting in an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, and a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Upon acute heat stress, the liver function of the NT group was disordered and unable to produce enough total-bilirubin (T-BIL), while the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity of the HT group was more susceptible to being affected. Long-term heat stress led to significant changes in gene expression, with the NT group showing three times more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the liver compared to the HT group under acute heat stress conditions. Analysis of DEG enrichment during the same treatment period in both groups revealed significant differences in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism pathways. These results suggest that long-term heat stress caused liver tissue damage in C. fuscus, altering immune and oxidative balance, enzyme activity sensitivity, as well as the body's response to acute heat stress pathways and intensity. This study lays the groundwork for future investigations into fish adaptability to sudden temperature changes and aquaculture strategies to mitigate heat stress in fish facing extreme temperatures.

Proteomic characterization of the different stages of seed germination in Cupressus gigantea

Abstract Seed germination is a pivotal period of plant growth and development. This process can be divided into four major stages, swelling absorption, seed coat dehiscence, radicle emergence and radicle elongation. Cupressus gigantea, a tree native to Tibet, China, is characterized by its resistance to stresses such as cold, and drought, and has a high economic and ecological value. Nevertheless, given its unique geographic location, its seeds are difficult to germinate. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the mechanisms involved in seed germination in this species to improve the germination efficiency of its seeds, thereby protecting this high-quality resource. Here, our findings indicate that seed germination was enhanced when exposed to a 6-h/8-h light/dark photoperiod, coupled with a temperature of 20°C. Furthermore, the application of exogenous GA3 (1 mg/ml, about 2.9 mM) stimulated the germination of C. gigantea seeds. Subsequently, proteomics was used to detect changes in protein expression during the four stages of seed germination. We identified 34 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 13 at the radicle pre-emergence stage, and 17 at the radicle elongation stage. These DEPs were classified into eight functional groups, cytoskeletal proteins, energy metabolism, membrane transport, stress response, molecular chaperones, amino acid metabolism, antioxidant system and ABA signalling pathway. Most of them were found to be closely associated with amino acid metabolism. Combined, these findings indicate that, along with temperature and light, exogenous GA3 can increase the germination efficiency of C. gigantea seeds. Our study also offers insights into the changes in protein expression patterns in C. gigantea seeds during germination.

Abstract PO5-13-03: Early Detection of Breast Cancer using Targeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling

Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Accordingly, early diagnosis is key to the successful treatment, management, and care of BC. Recent studies confirmed that plasma metabolites could be reliable cancer biomarkers, allowing for the development of a minimally invasive routine blood test that can be used for screening, as well as for monitoring disease evolution in patients. The exact metabolic pathways involved in early BC development remain unclear. Metabolomic profiling of women with BC may help to identify new biomarkers to predict breast cancer long before symptoms appear. The purpose of this study was to validate a plasma metabolomic biomarker panel for an improved risk assessment for early detection BC in 241 patients, and to understand the potential role and the relationship between BC subtypes and hormone receptor status. Methods: Our study included a total of 185 plasma samples from women with biopsy-confirmed BC and 56 plasma samples from healthy controls. A targeted, quantitative mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approach was used to analyze 138 metabolites in plasma samples using a combination of direct injection (DI) MS and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The sample set was split into a discovery set and validation set. Metabolite concentration data, clinical data, and hormones receptor status were used to determine optimal biomarker sets. The same biomarkers and regression models were used and assessed on the validation models. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUROC), sensitivities and specificities at selected cut off points were calculated for each subgroup. Results: A large proportion of BC patients were at an early stage, with 98 at stage I (53.0 %), 70 at stage II (37.8%), and 17 at stage III (9.2%). The BC patients were of all subtypes: 138 luminal A (76,2%), 23 luminal B (12.7%), 5 hormone receptor-negative/HER2-positive (2.8%), and 15 triples negative (8.3%). A feature selection was performed on the training set using Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and the top performing metabolites were identified as the most important in discriminating BC from healthy subjects. The impact of age was also investigated. Features with >80% missing values were removed. To predict BC, the best signature comprised 9 variables implicated in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, polyamine biosynthesis and related signaling pathways We further developed and validated a logistic regression with AUROC > 0.9 using these metabolites and other clinical data for detecting different stages and subtypes of BC. Conclusion: This study identified and validated a simple, high-performing, metabolite-based test for the early detection of BC. After confirmation in other independent cohort studies, our findings could provide the foundations for the development of a blood-based routine test for women at the highest risk for BC that is cost-effective, accurate and reliable. In addition, this approach could be used to complement other modalities especially for BC patients with dense breasts. Citation Format: Jean-Francois Haince, Lun Zhang, Rashid Ahmed Bux, Paramjit S. Tappia, Bram Ramjiawan, David Wishart, Andrew Maksymiuk. Early Detection of Breast Cancer using Targeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-13-03.

Temporal patterns of endophytic microbial heterogeneity across distinct ecological compartments within the Panax ginseng root system following deforestation for cultivation

Alterations in the microbial community significantly impact the yield and quality of ginseng. Yet, the dynamics of microbial community shifts within the root endophytes of ginseng across varying cultivation periods remain inadequately understood. This study zeroes in on the microbial community variations within the xylem (M), phloem (R), and fibrous roots (X) of ginseng during the fourth (F4) and fifth (F5) years of cultivation, aiming to bridge this research gap. We assessed soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and nine individual saponins, complemented by high-throughput sequencing techniques (16S rDNA and ITS) to determine their profiles. The results showed that cultivation years mainly affected the microbial diversity of endophytic bacteria in ginseng fibrous roots compartment: the ASVs number and α-diversity Chao1 index of bacteria and fungi in F5X compartment with higher cultivation years were significantly higher than those in F4X compartment with lower cultivation years. It is speculated that the changes of fibrous roots bacterial groups may be related to the regulation of amino acid metabolic pathway. Such as D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism D-glutamine, cysteine and methionine metabolism regulation. The dominant bacteria in ginseng root are Proteobacteria (relative abundance 52.07–80.35%), Cyanobacteria (1.97–42.52%) and Bacteroidota (1.11–5.08%). Firmicutes (1.28–3.76%). There were two dominant phyla: Ascomycota (60.10–93.71%) and Basidiomycota (2.25–30.57%). Endophytic fungi were more closely related to soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities. AN, TK, OP, SWC and EC were the main driving factors of endophytic flora of ginseng root. Tetracladium decreased with the increase of cultivation years, and the decrease was more significant in phloem (F4R: 33.36%, F5R: 16.48%). The relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium, Agrobacterium and Bacillus in each ecological niche increased with the increase of cultivation years. The relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium and Agrobacterium in F5X increased by 8.35 and 9.29 times, respectively, and Bacillus in F5M increased by 5.57 times. We found a variety of potential beneficial bacteria and pathogen antagonists related to ginseng biomass and saponins, such as Bradyrhizobium, Agrobacterium, Bacillus and Exophiala, which have good potential for practical application and development.

Unveiling the regulatory mechanism of poly-γ-glutamic acid on soil characteristics under drought stress through integrated metagenomics and metabolomics analysis

It is of utmost importance to understand the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of soil in order to optimize soil management and enhance crop yield. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a stress-resistant amino acid polymer, plays a crucial role in plant drought stress resistance. However, little is known about the effects of γ-PGA on soil characteristics during drought treatments. In this study, the effects of different forms of γ-PGA on soil texture and basic physical and chemical properties under short-term drought conditions were investigated. Furthermore, the impact of γ-PGA on the microbial community and metabolic function of maize was analyzed. Under drought conditions, the introduction of γ-PGA into the soil resulted in notable improvements in the mechanical composition ratio and infiltration capacity of the soil. Concurrently, this led to a reduction in soil bulk density and improved soil organic matter content and fertility. Additionally, metagenomic analysis revealed that under drought conditions, the incorporation of γ-PGA into the soil enhanced the soil microbiota structure. This shift led to the predominance of bacteria that are crucial for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in the soil. Metabolomics analysis revealed that under drought treatment, γ-PGA affected soil metabolic patterns, with a particular focus on alterations in amino acid and vitamin metabolism pathways. Correlation analysis between the soil metagenome and metabolites showed that microorganisms played a significant role in metabolite accumulation. These results demonstrated that γ-PGA could improve soil characteristics under drought conditions and play an important role in soil microorganisms and microbial metabolism, providing further insights into the changes in soil characteristics under drought conditions.

Analysis of the Protective Effects of Rosa roxburghii-Fermented Juice on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice through Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics.

Acute lung injury, a fatal condition characterized by a high mortality rate, necessitates urgent exploration of treatment modalities. Utilizing UHPLS-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, our study scrutinized the active constituents present in Rosa roxburghii-fermented juice (RRFJ) while also assessing its protective efficacy against LPS-induced ALI in mice through lung histopathological analysis, cytokine profiling, and oxidative stress assessment. The protective mechanism of RRFJ against ALI in mice was elucidated utilizing metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methodologies. Our experimental findings demonstrate that RRFJ markedly ameliorates pathological injuries in ALI-afflicted mice, mitigates systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, enhances energy metabolism, and restores dysregulated amino acid and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. This study indicates that RRFJ can serve as a functional food for adjuvant treatment of ALI.

Altered mucosal bacteria and metabolomics in patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome

BackgroundPeutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the development of pigmented spots, gastrointestinal polyps and increased susceptibility to cancers. Currently, most studies have investigated intestinal microbiota through fecal microbiota, and there are few reports about mucosa-associated microbiota. It remains valuable to search for the key intestinal microbiota or abnormal metabolic pathways linked to PJS.AimThis study aimed to assess the structure and composition of mucosa-associated microbiota in patients with PJS and to explore the potential influence of intestinal microbiota disorders and metabolite changes on PJS.MethodsThe bacterial composition was analyzed in 13 PJS patients and 12 controls using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) for bacteria. Differential analyses of the intestinal microbiota were performed from the phylum to species level. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC‒MS) was used to detect the differentially abundant metabolites of PJS patients and controls to identify different metabolites and metabolic biomarkers of small intestinal mucosa samples.ResultsHigh-throughput sequencing confirmed the special characteristics and biodiversity of the mucosa microflora in patients with PJS. They had lower bacterial biodiversity than controls. The abundance of intestinal mucosal microflora was significantly lower than that of fecal microflora. In addition, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and other pathways were significantly different from those of controls, which were associated with the development of the enteric nervous system, intestinal inflammation and development of tumors.ConclusionThis is the first report on the mucosa-associated microbiota and metabolite profile of subjects with PJS, which may be meaningful to provide a structural basis for further research on intestinal microecology in PJS.

Effects of biochar and compost on microbial community assembly and metabolic processes in glyphosate, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin polluted soil under freeze[sbnd]thaw cycles

Biochar and organic compost are widely used in agricultural soil remediation as soil immobilization agents. However, the effects of biochar and compost on microbial community assembly processes in polluted soil under freezingthawing need to be further clarified. Therefore, a freezethaw cycle experiment was conducted with glyphosate (herbicide), imidacloprid (insecticide) and pyraclostrobin (fungicide) polluted to understand the effect of biochar and compost on microbial community assembly and metabolic behavior. We found that biochar and compost could significantly promote the degradation of glyphosate, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin in freezethaw soil decrease the half-life of the three pesticides. The addition of immobilization agents improved soil bacterial and fungal communities and promoted the transformation from homogeneous dispersal to homogeneous selection. For soil metabolism, the combined addition of biochar and compost alleviated the pollution of glyphosate, imidacloprid and imidacloprid to soil through up-regulation of metabolites (DEMs) in amino acid metabolism pathway and down-regulation of DEMs in fatty acid metabolism pathway. The structural equation modeling (SEM) results showed that soil pH and DOC were the main driving factors affecting microbial community assembly and metabolites. In summary, the combined addition of biochar and compost reduced the adverse effects of pesticides residues.

Microplastics have additive effects on cadmium accumulation and toxicity in Rice flower carp (Procypris merus)

Procypris merus, a local fish species found in Guangxi, China is often exposed to both microplastics (MPs) and Cd. However, it remains unclear how these two pollutants affect P. merus. Therefore, we investigated the effects of MPs on Cd accumulation in P. merus. To this end, P. merus was separately exposed to Cd and MPs (500 μg/L) or their combination for 14 days. We found that MPs enhanced Cd accumulation in liver and gills of P. merus. Further, both the single-contaminant (MP and Cd) and combined treatments resulted in lesions in these two tissues, with more severe damage associated with the combined treatment. Even though the effect of MP on the antioxidant defense system of P. merus was limited, the Cd-only and combined treatments considerably affected the antioxidant parameters of P. merus, with the combined treatment showing a stronger effect. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs; TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor, trail-r) in the Cd-only treatment group were enriched for immune-related GO terms and cell growth and death related pathways, indicating that Cd toxicity affected immune defense in P. merus. The MP-only treatment downregulated DEGs (acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 1a, acsl1a) related to lipid metabolism, possibly leading to lipid accumulation in the liver. The combined treatment also upregulated DEGs (aspartate aminotransferase 1, ast 1) associated with immune-related GO terms and amino acid metabolism pathways, suggesting that it affected immune function in P. merus, thereby negatively impacting its health. Results indicated that MPs have additive effects on Cd accumulation and toxicity in rice flower carp. Consequently, MPs ingested by P. merus can promote Cd accumulation, more adverse effects on the health may occur after combined exposure, which can eventually reach humans through the food chain and pose potential risks to human health.

Sublethal acetamiprid affects reproduction, development and disrupts gene expression in Binodoxys communis.

At present, understanding of neonicotinoid toxicity in arthropods remains limited. We here evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of acetamiprid in F0 and F1 generations of Binodoxys communis using a range of sublethal concentrations. The 10% lethal concentration (LC10) and half lethal concentration (LC25) of ACE had negative effects on the B. communis survival rate, adult longevity, parasitism rate, and emergence rate, and significantly prolonged the duration of the developmental cycle. ACE also had intergenerational effects, with some biological indices affected in the F1 generation after pesticide exposure. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes were enriched in specific pathways including the amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, exogenous metabolism, signal transduction, and glutathione metabolism pathways. These results indicated strong contact toxicity of ACE to B. communis, which may inhibit their biological control capacity. These results improve our understanding of the toxicological mechanisms of parasitic natural enemies in response to insecticide exposure.

Metabolomic analysis of rumen-protected branched-chain amino acids in primiparous dairy cows.

Peripartal cows are susceptible to a negative energy balance due to inadequate nutrient intake and high energy requirements for lactation. Improving the energy metabolism of perinatal dairy cows is crucial in increasing production in dairy cows. In this study, we investigated the impact of rumen-protected branched-chain amino acid (RPBCAA) on the production performance, energy and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and immune function of primiparous dairy cows using metabolomics through a single-factor experiment. Twenty healthy primiparous Holstein cows were selected based on body condition scores and expected calving date, and were randomly divided into RPBCAA (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The control group received a basal diet from calving until 21d in milk, and the RPBCAA group received the basal diet and 44.6 g/d RPLeu, 25.14 g/d RPIle, and 25.43 g/d RPVal. In comparison to the control group, the supplementation of RPBCAA had no significant effect on milk yield and milk composition of the dairy cows. Supplementation with RPBCAA significantly increased the concentrations of insulin, insulin growth factor 1, glucagon, and growth hormones, which are indicators of energy metabolism in postpartum cows. The very low density lipoprotein, fatty acid synthase, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, and hormone-sensitive lipase contents of the RPBCAA group were significantly greater than that of the control group; these metrics are related to lipid metabolism. In addition, RPBCAA supplementation significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulin G concentrations and decreased malondialdehyde concentrations. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed 414 serum and 430 milk metabolic features. Supplementation with RPBCAA primarily increased concentrations of amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways and upregulated the abundance of serotonin, glutamine, and phosphatidylcholines. In summary, adding RPBCAA to the daily ration can influence endocrine function and improve energy metabolism, regulate amino acid and lipid metabolism, mitigate oxidative stress and maintain immune function on primiparous cows in early lactation.

Toxic mechanism in Daphnia magna due to phthalic acid esters and CuO nanoparticles co-exposure: The insight of physiological, microbiomic and metabolomic profiles

Various phthalic acid esters (PAEs) such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) co-exist with nanopollutants in aquatic environment. In this study, Daphnia magna was exposed to nano-CuO and DBP or BBP at environmental relevant concentrations for 21-days to investigate these combined toxic effects. Acute EC50 values (48 h) of nano-CuO, DBP, and BBP were 12.572 mg/L, 8.978 mg/L, and 4.785 mg/L, respectively. Results showed that co-exposure with nano-CuO (500 μg/L) for 21 days significantly enhanced the toxicity of DBP (100 μg/L) and BBP (100 μg/L) to Daphnia magna by 18.37% and 18.11%, respectively. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase were enhanced by 10.95% and 14.07%, 25.63% and 25.91%, and 39.93% and 35.01% in nano-CuO+DBP and nano-CuO+BBP treatments as compared to the individual exposure groups, verifying that antioxidative defense responses were activated. Furthermore, the co-exposure of nano-CuO and PAEs decreased the population richness and diversity microbiota, and changed the microbial community composition in Daphnia magna. Metabolomic analysis elucidated that nano-CuO + PAEs exposure induced stronger disturbance on metabolic network and molecular function, including amino acid, nucleotides, and lipid metabolism-related metabolic pathways, as comparison to PAEs single exposure treatments. In summary, the integration of physiological, microflora, and untargeted metabolomics analysis offers a fresh perspective into the potential ecological risk associated with nanopollutants and phthalate pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Porcine Brain Enzyme Hydrolysate Enhances Immune Function and Antioxidant Defense via Modulation of Gut Microbiota in a Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunodeficiency Model.

This study examined how consuming porcine brain enzyme hydrolysate (PBEH) affects the immune function and composition of the gut microbiota in an immunodeficient animal model. Male Wistar rats aged 6 weeks were fed casein (control), 100 mg/kg body weight (BW), red ginseng extract (positive-control), and 6, 13, and 26 mg PBEH per kg BW (PBEH-L, PBEH-M, and PBEH-H, respectively) daily for 4 weeks. At 30 min after consuming assigned compounds, they were orally administered cyclophosphamide (CTX; 5 mg/kg BW), an immunosuppressive agent, to suppress the immune system by inhibiting the proliferation of lymphocytes. The normal-control rats were fed casein and water instead of CTX. Natural killer cell activity and splenocyte proliferation induced by 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide were lower in the control group than the normal-control group, and they significantly increased with PBEH consumption, particularly at high doses. The PBEH consumption increased dose-dependently in the Th1/Th2 ratio compared to the control. The lipid peroxide contents were lower in the PBEH group than in the control group. Moreover, PBEH m and PBEH-H consumption mitigated white pulp cell damage, reduced red pulp congestion, and increased spleen mast cells in the histological analysis. Intestinal microbiota composition demonstrated differences between the groups at the genus levels, with Akkermansia being more abundant in the control group than the normal-control group and the PBEH-H group showing a decrease. However, Bifidobacterium decreased in the control group but increased in the PBEH-H group. The β-diversity revealed distinct microbial communities of PBEH and positive-control groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The metagenome predictions revealed that PBEH-H influenced amino acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, insulin sensitivity, and longevity pathways. In conclusion, PBEH-H intake boosted immune responses and reduced lipid peroxides by modulating gut microbiota composition. These findings suggest that PBEH-H has the potential as a dietary supplement for improving immune function and gut health in individuals with immunodeficiency.

Metabolomic Markers in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Children and Adolescents-A Systematic Review.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by clinical diversity, poses diagnostic challenges often reliant on subjective assessments. Metabolomics presents an objective approach, seeking biomarkers for precise diagnosis and targeted interventions. This review synthesizes existing metabolomic insights into ADHD, aiming to reveal biological mechanisms and diagnostic potentials. A thorough PubMed and Web of Knowledge search identified studies exploring blood/urine metabolites in ADHD-diagnosed or psychometrically assessed children and adolescents. Synthesis revealed intricate links between ADHD and altered amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter dysregulation (especially dopamine and serotonin), oxidative stress, and the kynurenine pathway impacting neurotransmitter homeostasis. Sleep disturbance markers, notably in melatonin metabolism, and stress-induced kynurenine pathway activation emerged. Distinct metabolic signatures, notably in the kynurenine pathway, show promise as potential diagnostic markers. Despite limitations like participant heterogeneity, this review underscores the significance of integrated therapeutic approaches targeting amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitters, and stress pathways. While guiding future research, this overview of the metabolomic findings in ADHD suggests directions for precision diagnostics and personalized ADHD interventions.