The effects of acute skeletal muscle wasting on frailty and metabolic profile in patients with trauma: A prospective cohort study.

Effects of short-term exposure to ferrous sulfate on bioaccumulation, oxidative stress biomarkers, immunity, and intestinal microbiota in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis of foxtail millet fermented with Pleurotus geesteranus: Insights into the nutritional and antioxidant profiles.

Thermodynamic landscape of the redox-centres in the electron-confurcating [FeFe]-Hydrogenase (TmHydABC) of Thermotoga maritima.

Phytophthora capsici is a destructive, broad-host oomycete that causes major agricultural losses. Yet how this generalist pathogen tailors its infection program to different plant species, especially at its natural entry site remains poorly understood. We profiled P. capsici during early crown infection of four hosts representing distinct compatibility outcomes (cucumber, melon, chili pepper CM334, and tomato) using pathogen-centered RNA-seq and microscopy. Disease progression and necrosis diverged sharply: tomato collapsed by 27 hpi, followed by melon (54 hpi), cucumber (102 hpi), and chili pepper (120 hpi). Pathogen transcriptomes were strongly host-dependent, with 4470 differentially expressed genes but only a small conserved core shared across hosts (436 induced; 415 repressed). In rapidly collapsing tomato infections, the pathogen upregulated glycolysis and fatty-acid metabolism and repressed HR-associated elicitin INF2B. In cucurbit infections, expression patterns were consistent with prolonged biotrophy, including increased carbohydrate metabolism, transport processes, and nutrient acquisition. In partially resistant CM334, pathogen profiles indicated constrained early colonization, with metabolic stress, cell wall remodeling, and broad effector repression. Co-expression analysis identified modules linked to colonization, nutrient exploitation, and pathogenesis/defense-related functions. dsRNA-mediated silencing supported these patterns: silencing Pc18476 and Pc9358 reduced pathogen growth on cucumber leaves (∼78% and ∼65%), and in stem assays reduced growth and/or prevented necrosis in CM334 and tomato. Together, these findings show that P. capsici achieves broad host range by dynamically tuning effector deployment and metabolism to host-specific constraints, resulting in divergent infection outcomes during early crown invasion.

Bacterial xylanase supplementation improves nutrient utilization, gut integrity, and microbial metabolism in broilers fed energy-reduced diets.

Multi-omics analyses reveal combined toxic mechanisms of tricresyl phosphate and TiO2 nanoparticle on Daphnia magna.

The coexistence of non-starch polysaccharides and resistant starch (RS) impacts the physiological functions of dietary fiber, especially the availability of dietary fiber with some specific structures (e.g. insoluble dietary fiber, IDF). Therefore, three complexes with different ratios of RS/IDF from tiger nuts were prepared, followed by an investigation of their corresponding physicochemical and structural properties, as well as the regulatory role in gut microbiota. The results indicated that the complex with RS/IDF ratio of 5/95 (H-IDF) had the greatest water retention, water swelling and oil retention capacities. All three complexes had a similar amylopectin/amylose ratio, which attenuated the impact on microbial fermentation. However, the complex with RS/IDF ratio of 40/60 (L-IDF) had the greatest potential to promote microbial fermentation demonstrated by severe morphological damage. Furthermore, the fermentation of L-IDF led to the greatest generation of acetate and butyrate, but the lowest generation of isobutyrate. Meanwhile, the fermentation of L-IDF enhanced Prevotella abundance, accompanied by a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and pathogenic bacteria in terms of Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella. The increased butyrate levels during 24 h fermentation might be primarily due to the enhanced abundance of Faecalibacterium in the early phases and Bifidobacterium in the later phases. The further analysis of functional prediction consistently supported a significantly up-regulated carbohydrate metabolism and down-regulated amino acid metabolism following L-IDF fermentation. This study might highlight a new approach for designing complex carbohydrates with targeted intestinal health functions via the regulation of the RS/IDF ratio. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), and the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. India is among the top three countries in DM prevalence, and both DM and DR are projected to rise sharply in the future. There is no accepted strategy for the prevention of DR other than DM control. Recent studies suggest that DM is associated with alterations in a core group of gut microbiota, and progression to DR may be influenced by changes within this core group, highlighting a potential link between DR and gut microbiome. We studied these changes in a protocol-driven large case-control study, the Diabetic Retinopathy Microbiome Study-India (DRMS-India: CTRI/2024/02/062511), analysed the results of the first 100 individuals, and evaluated variations in gut microbiome in DR. The DRMS is designed to recruit 462 people aged ≥ 30 years into three cohorts: healthy controls (HCs), DM, and DR, at 17 independent sites in India. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of first-pass morning fecal samples is performed at a centralized laboratory and correlated with disease status, lifestyle, dietary, and systemic factors. The first 100 participants included 26 HC, 33 DM, and 41 DR. The trends showed the DR group had 1, 6, and 10 unique core phyla, genera, and species, respectively. Alpha diversity was highest in the DR group; Beta diversity plots showed separate clusters of HCs and DR, with DM overlapping both. Firmicutes (highest in DR), Proteobacteria (highest in DM), Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria (highest in HC) were common phyla. Segatella was the most common genus, and Segatella copri was the most common species across all groups to date. Most microbial gene families were annotated to Molecular Functions (MF), and the pathways attributed to carbohydrate, amino acid, lipid, and nucleotide metabolism, indicating distinct functional adaptations in their gut microbiome. Trends from the first 100 individuals indicate that the gut microbiome of Indians with DR exhibits discriminatory features in microbial diversity and abundance, as well as in gene families and pathways that impact host gut metabolism. Data trends from DRMS-India indicate a region-specific non-invasive biomarker that may guide preventive therapy for DR.

Insect metamorphosis is an evolutionary adaptation precisely regulated by nutritional and hormonal cues. The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, a major stored-product pest, serves as an excellent model for studying this process. The acid-labile subunit (ALS) of insulin-like growth factor forms a trimer with insulin-like peptides and their binding proteins, prolonging insulin half-life. However, its role in T. castaneum metamorphosis remains poorly understood. Here, we found that TcALS protein is structurally conserved with a characteristic horseshoe shape. Spatiotemporal analysis showed lowest TcALS expression during the pupal stage. TcALS knockdown advanced pupation by approximately three days without altering the final emergence rate. Transcriptome and targeted qRT-PCR analyses uncovered a strict temporal hierarchy: glycosylation, autophagy, carbohydrate metabolism genes were upregulated within 24 h, whereas insulin, juvenile hormone, and 20-hydroxyecdysone signaling genes remain unchanged until 48 h. Mechanistically, TcALS knockdown diverted glucose into the hexosamine pathway and activated glycosylation; the resulting advanced glycation end-products triggered endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, thereby initiating autophagy. Subsequently, insulin-juvenile hormone signaling was suppressed while 20-hydroxyecdysone levels increased, collectively driving larvae to pupate precociously. Thus, our findings establish TcALS as a nutrient-sensitive checkpoint linking early glycosylation-autophagy responses to late insulin-hormonal signaling, providing novel insights into the mechanisms of pest adaptation to nutrition.

Microorganisms are metabolically versatile and central to marine ecosystems, yet the potential of marine microbial communities to degrade different bioplastics and the effect of environmental factors are poorly understood. Employing multi-seasonal in situ and in vitro experiments, we assessed the biodegradation of six commonly used bio-based bioplastic materials at a coastal site in the brackish Baltic Sea and characterised the associated microbial communities using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. Cellulose acetate (CA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polyhydroxybutyrate/valerate (PHB) degraded at varying rates across materials, seasons, and experimental settings, with up to 28% weight attrition after 97 weeks in situ (CA) and 56% carbon loss to CO2 after four weeks in vitro (PBS). The three biodegraded plastics developed similar microbial communities that differed markedly from those on the other materials (cellulose acetate propionate, polyamide, and polyethylene) and in the water column. The main microbial populations on the biodegraded plastics included aerobic and facultative anaerobic heterotrophs with a broad capacity for carbohydrate metabolism. Populations with the potential for nitrogen fixation and denitrification were more prevalent on the biodegraded plastics, suggesting that bioplastic biodegradation is constrained by and coupled to the marine nitrogen cycle. Based on the metatranscriptomic signal of key genes involved in the initial hydrolysis of CA, PBS, and PHB, we identified diverse microbial populations that can potentially drive the biodegradation of these materials in the Baltic Sea, many of which encoded the potential to degrade multiple bioplastics. We propose the term bioplastisphere to denote the distinctive microbial communities associated with biodegradable plastics.

Carbon availability is a central determinant of beneficial plant-fungal associations, and sugar transporters are key levers of this exchange. SWEETs (SUGARS WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPORTED TRANSPORTER) are involved in transporting various kinds of sugars in plants; however, their functional roles in fungal symbiosis are not sufficiently explored. In this study, we investigate the functional relevance of Arabidopsis SWEETs in the interaction with endophytic fungi, Serendipita indica. Transcript profiling of SWEET genes in response to S. indica and its major elicitor, cellotriose, revealed early root-specific induction of SWEET12. Using a SWEET12 loss-of-function mutant, we demonstrate that the absence of SWEET12 disrupts the major outcomes of mutualism including growth promotion, balanced colonization, sugar allocation, and the accumulation of defense phytohormones (JA and SA). Transcriptome profiling further reveals that SWEET12 buffers whole-plant responses by coordinating genes linked to carbohydrate, nitrogen, and lipid metabolism, and by tuning defense signalling and nutrient transporter networks. Our findings indicate that SWEET12 is essential for balancing fungal colonization and host defense, thereby promoting plant growth. SWEET12 does so by acting as sugar valve that meters sugar release to the apoplast, enabling the fungus to access carbon while preserving host sugar homeostasis and immune competence.

The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra is a commercially valuable species in Asian aquaculture and plays an important role in ecosystem bioturbation. The sustainability of this species has become increasingly important due to the decline of natural populations. Characterizing gut microbial communities under different aquaculture conditions may contribute to improved culture practices for H. scabra. In this pilot-scale study, the intestinal microbiome of adult H. scabra was profiled across three aquaculture environments (concrete tanks, sea pens, and ponds) using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A total of 845 amplicon sequence variants were identified from nine intestinal samples. Bacterial richness and diversity tended to be higher in pond-reared individuals. Principal Coordinates Analysis suggested differences in microbial community composition among the three environments, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria dominating across all systems. Members of the family Cyanobiaceae (phylum Cyanobacteria) showed relatively higher abundance in pond samples. Functional prediction based on PICRUSt2 indicated environment-associated differences in microbial metabolic potential, with lipid biosynthesis pathways more represented in concrete tanks, carbohydrate and glycogen metabolism more prominent in ponds, and nitrogen-related pathways more represented in sea pen samples. Overall, these results suggest trends in compositional and functional variation of the gut microbiota across aquaculture systems and provide baseline information to support future microbiome-focused investigations in H. scabra aquaculture.

Chemical agents, such as sulfur mustard (SM), are extremely toxic, and prolonged exposure can severely disrupt the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids in organisms. To effectively monitor agent exposure and identify specific biomarkers, we employed 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) as a simulant to investigate the changes in metabolic characteristics within three bryophytes under different concentrations of 2-CEES exposure. Key metabolic pathways and enzymes affected by 2-CEES were analysed using theoretical calculations. Results demonstrated significant morphological changes in bryophytes following exposure to 2-CEES. Meanwhile, Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters revealed that 2-CEES markedly disrupted the photosynthetic activity of Physcomitrella patens and Taxiphyllum taxirameum. Metabolomic analysis showed pronounced changes in metabolite expression after 72 hr of 2-CEES (600 mg/m³) treatment across all three species. Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) indicated that 2-CEES significantly perturbed amino acid, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism in Bryum argenteum and Physcomitrella patens. In contrast, Taxiphyllum taxirameum exhibited primary disruptions in lipid metabolism, terpenoid and polyketide metabolism, and membrane transport. Notably, aberrant synthesis of L-Glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) in the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway may correlate with impaired chlorophyll production. In addition, the significant changes of Gamma-Glutamyl-beta-(isoxazolin-5-on-2-yl)alanine, Trans-zeatin riboside, and Cytidine in bryophytes exposed to 600 mg/m³ 2-CEES suggest their potential as micro- and trace biochemical indicators for agent-induced stress. Molecular docking of 2-CEES with key enzymes (Glutathione S-transferase and Glu-tRNA synthetase) revealed that its chloro and methyl groups form hydrogen bonds with residues such as TYR and ARG, interfering with substrate-binding activity and consequently disrupting metabolic pathways.

Frailty has been increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the metabolic mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study aimed to identify metabolomic signatures of frailty and their mediating roles in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Using data from 95 770 UK Biobank participants, we applied elastic net regularized regression to construct a frailty-related metabolomic signature score comprising 43 plasma metabolites across lipids, amino acids, fatty acids, and energy metabolism. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between this metabolomic signatures score and incident CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke over a median follow-up of 13.81 years. Mediation analysis under a counterfactual framework was conducted to quantify the extent to which the metabolomic signatures mediated the frailty-CVD association. High metabolomic signature scores were significantly associated with increased risks of CVD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-1.53), CHD (HR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.41-1.61), and stroke (HR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.37-1.54). Mediation analysis indicated that the metabolomic signature accounted for 14.9% of the association between frailty and overall CVD, 16.0% for CHD, and 16.9% for stroke. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed 7 metabolic pathways significantly enriched in frailty, with the primary associations implicating carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. This study highlights a distinct frailty-related metabolic profile that independently predicts cardiovascular risk and partially mediates the frailty-CVD association. These findings underscore the value of metabolomic profiling in guiding early detection and prevention strategies for frailty-related cardiovascular outcomes.

Characterization of a novel cold-active endo-β-1,3-1,4-glucanase from Paenibacillus sp. XP01 and prebiotic potential of its enzymatic hydrolysates.

Seasonal temperature is the primary environmental cue controlling reproductive development in temperate fruit trees, yet its role has largely interpreted through dormancy-based models that view winter cold as a passive prerequisite for growth resumption. This review reassesses this framework by examining cold and warmth as sequential developmental signals acting during late flower development, after inflorescence meristem identity has been established. Integrating anatomical, cytological and transcriptomic evidence, we show that reproductive development follows a biphasic thermal organization. Microsporogenesis can progress during winter under chilling temperatures in a species-dependent manner, with peach representing a clear case of cold-driven meiotic progression. In contrast, pollen maturation and female gametophyte development remain dependent on rising spring temperatures and occur within a narrow pre-bloom window across major Rosaceae fruit crops. We further discuss how this sequential thermal control is coordinated by multiple regulatory layers involving transcriptional regulation, hormonal balance, carbohydrate metabolism and chromatin dynamics. Disruption of the sequence of cold and warm periods under recent climate variability uncouples male and female gametophyte development, leading to recurrent failure modes that compromise fertility. We conclude that winter represents an active developmental phase and that reproductive vulnerability arises primarily from altered thermal sequencing rather than cumulative temperature deficits.

Quercus glauca (Q. glauca) is an ecologically and economically important evergreen broadleaf species in subtropical Asia, yet its productivity is increasingly threatened by drought stress. Brassinosteroids (BRs), a class of plant steroidal hormones, play crucial roles in stress adaptation. In this study, we used an integrated multi-omics approach to investigate how exogenous BR application enhances drought resistance in Q. glauca. Physiological analyses showed that BR reduced oxidative damage by lowering ROS and MDA levels, while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) and osmoprotectants (proline, soluble sugars). Anatomical observations indicated BR preserved mesophyll structure and stomatal aperture. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that BR not only restored gene expression to the pre-stress state but also induced a new transcriptional program distinct from both CK and drought that was enriched in MAPK signaling, hormone crosstalk, and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolomics confirmed the accumulation of protective metabolites (flavonoids, sterols, osmolytes) and strategic reallocation away from energy-costly secondary metabolism. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified hub genes (AKR2, ERF020-like, At4g00960-like) linking BR-responsive expression patterns to drought-mitigating traits. Collectively, these results support a multi-phase model in which BR orchestrates detoxification, metabolic rewiring, structural repair, and sustained signal perception. This study provides novel insights into BR-mediated drought resilience in Q. glauca and identifies molecular targets for silvicultural stress management.

HyperCKemia, defined as elevated serum creatine kinase, commonly reflects muscle injury but may also indicate underlying metabolic disease. Metabolic aetiologies, including glycogen storage disorders, fatty acid oxidation defects, mitochondrial cytopathies, and purine metabolism disorders, are clinically important owing to diagnostic complexity, therapeutic implications, and potential reversibility. To summarise current evidence on metabolic causes of hyperCKemia in adults, with emphasis on disorders of carbohydrate, lipid, and purine metabolism and mitochondrial disease. Semi-systematic narrative review of pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and management of metabolic disorders associated with hyperCKemia. Metabolic myopathies often present with nonspecific or exercise-related symptoms, with creatine kinase levels ranging from mild-to-severe elevations. Conditions such as McArdle disease, carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency, and mitochondrial cytopathies demonstrate characteristic metabolic vulnerabilities leading to episodic or persistent hyperCKemia. Medications, including statins and antiretrovirals, may precipitate symptoms in predisposed individuals. Diagnosis requires a structured, multidisciplinary approach incorporating biochemical testing, genetic analysis, functional studies, and muscle biopsy. Many causes are amenable to targeted therapy, including dietary modification, endocrine correction, and medication withdrawal. Metabolic causes of hyperCKemia are under-recognised but clinically significant. Early identification allows targeted treatment and prevention of complications.

Background: The adaptability of leguminous plant–rhizobia symbionts enables enhanced plant stress tolerance in environmentally stressed areas. However, how rock desertification (RD) severity affects the endophytic and nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in Pisum sativum root nodules remains unclear. Methods: We systematically surveyed the microbial communities of P. sativum nodules across a gradient of four RD areas. We sequenced 16S rRNA and nifH amplicons, determined soil physicochemical properties, and performed bioinformatic analyses to relate nodule microbiome diversity to soil variables. Results: The dominant endophytic genera across all sites were Allorhizobium–Neorhizobium–Pararhizobium–Rhizobium and Pseudomonas, with Rhizobium identified as the primary nitrogen-fixing taxon. Soil pH and total phosphorus (TP) showed significant correlations with the overall endophytic bacterial community, whereas total nitrogen (TN), TP, and soil water content (SWC) were associated with nitrogen-fixing taxa. Notably, P. sativum nodules from areas of slight rocky desertification (SRD) harbored higher endophytic bacterial diversity and enhanced carbohydrate metabolism compared to those from moderately rocky desertified (MRD) sites. Conclusions: This study sheds light on how bacterial communities within legume root nodules respond to RD stress, deepening our understanding of plant–microbe co-adaptation and informing microbial-assisted restoration strategies in karst desertification areas.