Protein Content Research Articles

Effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilization on Winter Oilseed Rape Yield

Oilseed rape is one of many crops with high nutritional requirements, particularly for nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S). Both macronutrients affect important physiological plant functions and are essential for the proper growth and development of oilseed rape. The objective of the experiment was to investigate the impact of nitrogen and sulphur fertilization on the yield of the winter oilseed rape cultivar LG Absolut. The experiment was conducted during the 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2022/2023 growing seasons on Haplic Cambisol soil formed from loess, with medium levels of mineral nitrogen and sulphur. In the experiment, two nitrogen fertilization treatments (150 and 200 kg ha−1) were compared in combination with three additional sulphur fertilization rates (20, 40, and 60 kg ha−1). The results demonstrated that the effectiveness of N and S fertilization varied between individual years. On average, the highest seed yields were obtained with the application of 200 kg N ha−1 combined with sulphur, regardless of the rate. This was attributed to a significant increase in soil–plant analysis development (SPAD) values, the number of pods per plant, and the thousand-seed weight. The increase in seed yield with the higher nitrogen rate without sulphur ranged from 0.36 to 0.57 t ha−1 compared to the lower rate (control 150 N kg ha−1). Supplementary sulphur fertilization increased seed yield ranging from 0.22 to 0.76 t ha−1. The protein content in the seeds increased, while the fat content decreased, following the application of the higher nitrogen rate. The decrease in fat content was mitigated by higher rates of sulphur. The application of 60 kg S ha−1 yielded similar results of the tested parameters to the lower rates. Therefore, for soils with moderate levels of mineral nitrogen and sulphur, it is recommended to fertilize winter oilseed rape with 200 kg N ha−1 combined with 20 or 40 kg S ha−1.

Characterization of Extracellular Matrix Derived From Porcine Organs Decellularized Using Different Methods.

Regenerative medicine has extended the capacity of medicine to a point where tissues and organs could potentially be manufactured. This could resolve issues associated with organ transplantation. The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a supportive scaffold and biochemical cues allowing cells to attach, proliferate, and differentiate. The ECM is composed of different fibrous proteins and proteoglycans. The extensive value of ECM lies in its dynamic microenvironment that aids in cell proliferation, differentiation, and regulation of intercellular communication. In this study, four methods were applied to decellularize porcine organs. The ECMs were characterized by histological methods illustrating the absence of nuclei and the presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and collagen. Hematoxylin and eosin analysis of native pancreas revealed necrosis by auto-digestion, also supported by a reduced dsDNA content, and could have led to the destruction of Type IV collagen, laminins, and other proteins in the resulting ECMs, as confirmed by mass spectrometry. DNA quantification of ECM revealed residual dsDNA contents lower than those of the native organs. Bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay showed a difference in protein content between organs. Mass spectrometry coupled with proteomic analysis highlighted a significant difference in the protein composition. The number of different proteins, in some cases with more than 2700, in the produced ECM depended on the applied decellularization technique. Polarization microscopy indicated differences in the orientation of collagen fibers. This study provides a multimodal approach to characterize ECMs produced using different decellularization techniques, aiding in finding a balance between maintaining the ultrastructure and composition of ECM, while removing cellular components.

The Commercial Application of Insect Protein in Food Products: A Product Audit Based on Online Resources.

Insect protein has received considerable attention as an alternative to conventional animal proteins with its high nutritional contents and eco-friendly credentials. Exploring commercially available insect-protein-enhanced foods, this study aims to profile and compare such products in the ultra-processed category with products protein-enhanced with dairy (e.g., milk and whey) and plants (e.g., pea and rice). A global product audit was conducted drawing from English-language online retail portals to determine the product formats and statistically compare their nutritional contents with products fortified with non-insect proteins. The results show that four categories-flour/powder, pasta/noodle, starch-based snacks (e.g., chips, crackers, and cookies), and energy bars-are involved with food enhanced with insect protein. Flour/powder and pasta/noodles with insects demonstrated comparable protein contents to non-insect equivalents, highlighting insects' potential as effective protein sources. However, insect protein's performances in snacks and energy bars were less favourable, with significantly lower protein contents compared to products enhanced with non-insect sources. This may be attributed to the high fat content of insects, which may also contribute to undesirable flavours in complex foods, limiting their usage. The study highlights the need for industry innovation and scientific collaboration to overcome the challenges to widely applying insects as food ingredients, offering benefits for both the industry and consumers.

Exploiting synergy of dopamine and stressful conditions in enhancing Haematococcus lacustris biomass and astaxanthin yield.

Dopamine (DA) has attracted attention because of its effects on Haematococcus lacustris biomass, astaxanthin production, and physiological responses. The alga treated with 25 μM DA combined with 1 g L-1 sodium chloride exhibited 7.63 %, 41.25 %, and 52.04 % increases in biomass (1.41 g L-1), astaxanthin content (32.37 mg/g), and astaxanthin productivity (3.51 mg L-1 d-1) respectively, compared with the salinity stress and high light. Exogenous DA treatment promoted lipid synthesis while reducing carbohydrate and protein contents. Moreover, carotenogenesis and lipogenesis-associated genes were upregulated under DA induction. Inhibition of reactive oxygen species and autophagy, along with mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, promoted astaxanthin accumulation under DA. Furthermore, DA application boosted astaxanthin biosynthesis by regulating the levels of respiratory metabolic intermediates, the γ-aminobutyric acid shunt, and important phytohormones. These findings present a potential and successful biotechnological approach for enhancing biomass and astaxanthin production in H. lacustris under stressful conditions.

Efficient enzyme-free isolation of brain-derived extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained significant attention as pathology mediators and potential diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases. However, isolation of brain-derived EVs (BDEVs) from tissue remains challenging, often involving enzymatic digestion steps that may compromise the integrity of EV proteins and overall functionality. Here, we describe that collagenase digestion, commonly used for BDEV isolation, produces undesired protein cleavage of EV-associated proteins in brain tissue homogenates and cell-derived EVs. In order to avoid this effect, we studied the possibility of isolating BDEVs with a reduced amount of collagenase or without any protease. Characterization of the isolated BDEVs from mouse and human samples (both female and male) revealed their characteristic morphology and size distribution with both approaches. However, we show that even minor enzymatic digestion induces 'artificial' proteolytic processing in key BDEV markers, such as Flotillin-1, CD81, and the cellular prion protein (PrPC), whereas avoiding enzymatic treatment completely preserves their integrity. We found no major differences in mRNA and protein content between non-enzymatically and enzymatically isolated BDEVs, suggesting that the same BDEV populations are purified with both approaches. Intriguingly, the lack of Golgi marker GM130 signal, often referred to as contamination indicator (or negative marker) in EV preparations, seems to result from enzymatic digestion rather than from its actual absence in BDEV samples. Overall, we show that non-enzymatic isolation of EVs from brain tissue is possible and avoids artificial pruning of proteins while achieving an overall high BDEV yield and purity. This protocol will help to understand the functions of BDEV and their associated proteins in a near-physiological setting, thus opening new research approaches.

Population structure and markers analysis associated with powdery mildew resistance in pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo L

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is an economically important vegetable and summer crop. The seeds have high nutritional value due to their edible oil and protein content with a high medicinal value. Pumpkin is attacked by several fungal diseases; one of which is powdery mildew (PM) caused by Podosphaera xanthii race-0. PM causes severe disease on pumpkin leading to major yield losses globally. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of fourteen local pumpkin cultivars, all under Cucurbita pepo L. based on dominance in the region using 15 Inter-Simple-Sequence-Repeats-(ISSR) primer-pairs in association with resistance against PM as well as regulating the expression of three resistant marker genes i.e. SGT1, bHLH and PSK via qRT-PCR at three stages with 10 days' interval post-inoculation-stages-(SPI) with the powdery mildew agent, P. xanthii race-0. The results showed that ISSR markers demonstrated 13 primers out of 15 primers generated 169 distinct amplified bands, out of which 143 bands showed polymorphism. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC), marker index (MI), effective-number of alleles (I), expected heterozygosity (H), and Nei's gene diversity parameters were 0.354, 3.344, 0.334, 0.205 and 0.200, respectively. According to PIC, MI, I, H, and Nei indices evaluation, ISSR10 primer had the best performance in genetic diversity of the related pumpkin population. NTSYS pc 2.02e software and several similarity coefficients (r = 0.964), placed the related genotypes into five distinct groups. Of which, ‘Maragheh1′ and ‘Shahreza’ as resistant ones with 9.4 % and 6.1 % disease severity (DS), and ‘Gorgan’, ‘Urmia1′ and 3 and ‘Maragheh3’ with 79.6–84.8 % DS, as susceptible ones into two distinct groups, respectively. Further, the marker genes SGT1, bHLH and PSK expression level changes showed that the effect of variable factors including different genotypes (susceptible and resistant), disease-causing fungus, SPI, and the mutual effect of these factors is significant with the highest increase in resistant genotypes. Considering the relative compatibility in the classification of pumpkin genotypes in the dendrograms of DS and ISSR markers, it can be expected that increasing the number of markers in evaluating the genetic diversity of these genotypes makes it possible to differentiate pumpkin genotypes resistant and susceptible to PM disease based on the degree of disease resistance. The markers associated with resistance are recommended for use in marker assisted breeding.

A multiscale investigation on protein addition toward steering agglomeration and yield in spray drying

The positive effect of protein drying aids that reduce the stickiness of sugar-rich products on the spray drying yield is known. However, as agglomeration also depends on stickiness, one can expect an effect of these drying aids on interparticle collisions. Therefore, the effect of protein addition to maltodextrin systems on agglomeration and yield in spray drying was investigated using single droplet drying and pilot-scale spray drying experiments. Single droplet drying was used to compare the sticking regimes of whey and pea proteins at different concentrations. Adding protein increased the chance of creating agglomerates upon forced collisions between a drying droplet and a glass bead. This was reflected in an increased fraction of agglomerated particles in pilot-scale experiments with injection of fines. Pea protein decreased the fraction of non-agglomerated primary particles from 38% to 22% when the protein content in the liquid feed was 50 g/kg dry basis. In pilot-scale spray drying, protein addition improved the yield. Industrially, these results can be used to steer formulations regarding agglomeration and yield.

A Standardized Mouse Model for Wound Infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly drug-resistant pathogen known to impair wound healing and provoke inflammatory responses, potentially leading to immune dysregulation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the immune response mechanisms mediated by cytokines following P. aeruginosa infection through the development of a standardized wound model. Kunming mice were selected as experimental subjects and given 8 mm diameter lesions on their backs and inoculated with standard strains PAO1 and PA14. The key parameters assessed included changes in body weight, wound redness and swelling, bacterial dynamics, protein content in wound tissues, immune responses, and pathological alterations. The results demonstrated that pathogen invasion significantly inhibited wound healing, with healing rates in the infected groups (87.5 ± 6.3% and 77.1 ± 3.6%) being notably lower than those in the uninfected control group. P. aeruginosa persisted in the wounds for up to 12 days, with bacterial loads decreasing from 8 log to 2 log. Additionally, there was a marked reduction in the protein content of the wound tissue and an increase in the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and TNF-α. The thickness of granulation tissue and the number of neovessels were significantly lower compared to the uninfected control group. This study establishes a standardized paradigm for creating a mouse model of P. aeruginosa infection in wounds, emphasizing the importance of appropriate mouse strains, uniform wound preparation methods, and moderate inoculation doses for reliable and accurate experimental results. These elements will facilitate the assessment of changes across six key indicators post-infection, providing a foundational data set and technical support for future mechanistic investigations of P. aeruginosa infection and the development of targeted antimicrobial strategies.

Techno-functional, physicochemical and thermal characteristics of black chickpeas aquafaba under ultrasound pre-processing

Aquafaba is the liquid that remains from the cooking of beans in the canning industry, generally discarded as wastewater. This research aimed to optimize ultrasound pretreatment to enhance this by-product and introduce it as a high-added value product (known as liquid gold) in the food industry. The results showed that with the increase in the sonication time and amplitude, the extraction efficiency, soluble protein content, the density, and dry matter content of black chickpeas aquafaba increased significantly (p<0.05). The results also demonstrated that foaming ability (in short ultrasonication times) and foam stability significantly increased with higher amplitude. The results of numerical optimization showed that ultrasound pre-treatment for 30 minutes with an amplitude of 72% on black chickpeas before the cooking process created the best conditions for aquafaba extraction. Under these optimized conditions, the results yielded the highest values so that extraction efficiency, protein content, density, dry matter, foaming ability, and foam stability were 212.07%, 3546.7 mg/kg, 1.038 g/mL, 4.76%, 243.57%, and 44.50% respectively. Thermogravimetric and FT-IR analysis showed that the pre-sonication process not only makes aquafaba thermally stable, but also does not cause any structural changes in its chemical components. According to the favorable physicochemical characteristics of aquafaba, this product can benefit the food industry. It can be a material with high added value, profitable for the canning industry.

Construction and evaluation of transdermal delivery system of terbinafine-loaded plant exosomes for the treatment of cutaneous fungal infections

Local transdermal of antifungal agents is a problem that limits the effectiveness of clinical treatment of dermatomycosis. In this study, cucumber-derived plant extracellular vesicles (PEV) were extracted and loaded with the antifungal drug terbinafine (TBF) to form TBF-PEV, which was applied locally to the site of skin fungal infection to improve the transdermal transport capacity of TBF and the antifungal effect in vitro and in vivo. Chemical enhancer and physical enhancer methods were replaced by low immunogenicity and non-irritating PEV. TBF-PEV caused obvious curling and wrinkling in the skin, induced changes in the distribution of skin lipids, and changed the structure and content of skin lipids and proteins, thereby increasing the transdermal efficiency of TBF. The local drug concentration was increased, and the antifungal effect was improved in vitro and in vivo. It was first found that PEV inhibited the growth of Candida albicans with high efflux pump expression. In general, this paper has certain significance in local transdermal treatment of fungal skin infections and reversal of fungal resistance.

Lambs Grazing With Adult Ewes Prefer Forbs With High-Nutrient Content in Native Grasslands Dominated by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis.

Grazing livestock in grasslands face the challenge of obtaining sufficient nutrition due to uneven distribution of plant species and fluctuating vegetation productivity and nutrient levels. In northern China, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis are the dominant perennial species in native grasslands, but they provide limited nutrition compared to forbs with higher crude protein (CP) content. While dietary ingredients can affect the nutritional intake of grazing livestock, the influence of different grazing strategies on dietary selection remains unclear. In this study, three sheep grazing strategies (lambs alone, mixed lambs and ewes, and ewes alone) were used to explore dietary selection. We investigated the influence of vegetation characteristic (above-ground biomass production, height, and species diversity) and foraging behavior (feed intake, organic matter digestibility, and daily grazing time) on the mechanisms of dietary selection (taxonomic family richness and composition). Forage consumption across the grazing strategies revealed that species from Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Cyperaceae families were frequently consumed. Both ewes and lambs in the mixed-grazing strategy preferentially consumed forbs with diverse species composition (Jacob's D > 0), which contained higher CP than those available in the overall vegetation (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary richness was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by vegetation species diversity except for animals in the lambs alone strategy. Compared to lambs in mixed-grazing, lambs alone had both greater daily grazing time and consumption of grass with lower digestibility (p < 0.05). Our study is the first to demonstrate that lambs can develop a similar dietary selection and behavioral pattern when grazing with adult ewes in temperate grasslands. Our study indicates that the conservation of species diversity in native grasslands is critically beneficial to livestock nutrition.

Diversity of Major Yield Traits and Nutritional Components Among Greenhouse Grown Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Breeding Lines, Landraces, and Cultivars of Different Origins.

This study analyzed the diversity of major yield traits and nutritional components across 122 chickpea breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces of different origins. All parameters showed significant variations, with a variance ranging from 4.61% in days to maturity (DM) to 43.04% in oleic acid. Six accessions, including CP021, CP022, CP026, CP037, CP066, and CP109, outperformed in yield traits and nutritional value. Origin significantly affected all phenotypic traits except total fatty acid contents, with Indian and Ukrainian accessions demonstrating contrasting performances. Most traits, except for the number of seeds per pod (SPP), palmitic acid, and total fatty acid contents, differed significantly among breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces. Breeding lines were the earliest to flower and to mature with average days to flowering (DF) of 50.23 days and DM of 101.50 days. They also had the highest average SPP, number of pods per plant (PPP), total seeds per plant (TSPP), total protein, crude fiber, dietary fiber, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid contents making them preferable for high yield and nutrition. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the chickpea accessions into seven clusters, showing significant variations in yield traits and nutritional components. Principal component and Pearson's correlation analyses indicated positive correlations between DM and DF, and between SPP, PPP, and TSPP. Nutritional components also displayed varying associations, with a notable negative correlation between oleic and linoleic acids, the two essential fatty acids. Overall, this study showed the diversity of key phenotypic traits in chickpea breeding lines, cultivars, and landraces of different origins. The significant effects of genotype and origin differences on these traits could be used as a basis for future metabolomics and genomics research.

Adaptation of Chlorella vulgaris immobilization on rice straw with liquid manure to create a sustainable feedstock for biogas production and potential feed applications

Rice straw (RS) is a widely available agricultural residue with significant potential for biogas production and feed applications; however, its poor digestibility and nutritional value limit its utilization. This study explores an innovative approach to enhance the digestibility and nutritional value of RS by cultivating Chlorella vulgaris through immobilization technology on RS, using liquid manure (LM) as an alternative to the traditional BG11 medium. The results showed an increase in chlorophyll a (Chl a) after 12 days for both the BG11 medium and LM-based treatments, from 0.13 to 0.34 and 0.24 mg Chl a/g product (DM), respectively. Additionally, the immobilized microalgal biomass increased to 284.18 and 170.14 mg algal biomass/g product (DM), respectively. Soaking under microaerobic conditions during cultivation led to the partial degradation of RS. This, combined with the formed microalgal biofilm, contributed to an improved digestibility of the dry matter, reaching 69.1% and 65.9% for the final products based on the BG11 medium and LM mediums, respectively, compared to 52.1% for the raw RS. Furthermore, the crude protein and lipids contents were significantly improved with the potential for applications in feed, reaching 21.4% and 4.1% for the BG11 medium-based product, while they were observed to be 12.8% and 3.0%, respectively, for the LM-based product. Additionally, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was significantly reduced compared to the raw RS. The higher digestibility and improved nutritional value contributed to increased biogas production, reaching 129.3 and 118.7 mL/g (TS) for the products based on the traditional medium and LM medium, respectively, compared to 86.7 mL/g (TS) for the raw RS. The immobilization mechanism and biofilm development could be attributed to the roughness of the RS and extracellular polymer substances. This study demonstrates that integrating C. vulgaris cultivation on RS with LM as a nutrient source not only enhances the digestibility and nutritional value of RS but also offers a sustainable waste management solution with potential applications in biogas production and animal feed.

Is aquafaba suitable as a coffee creamer and foam enhancer in instant coffee?

Coffee is commonly consumed with a creamer to reduce the acidic taste, and rich foam is an important feature, particularly in instant coffee. We examined two aquafaba (AF) powders, chickpea and navy bean, as coffee creamers and foam enhancers using physical, chemical, and LC-Q-Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry methods. Chickpea AF powder contained more protein and phenolic content than navy bean AF, while the latter exhibited greater pH, total sugars, saponin, and ash levels. Navy bean AF also showed better flowability and solubility than that of chickpea, hence worse hygroscopicity. Interestingly, adding either AF powder to instant coffee (1 % dw/v) increased protein by 15 % and phenolic content by 4.23 %, but not whiteness. The LC-Q-Orbitrap analysis elucidated their foam properties. Coffee-added chickpea AF foams are better than free coffee and navy bean AF, although the latter's foam is more stable. Thus, AF can enhance coffee froth not act as a whitening agent.

Near-infrared spectroscopy for analysing livestock diet quality: A systematic review

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive and fast technology that has been increasingly used to analyse livestock diet quality. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to examine the utilisation of NIRS technology for analysing livestock diet quality, with a focus on identifying trends, methodologies, and challenges in recent research. We conducted a systematic search of the literature on five electronic databases and retrieved 718 studies that have been published on the subject. Fifty-four studies were subsequently selected and investigated in depth. These studies were categorised into two groups, namely benchtop and portable, based on the types of NIRS devices utilised, with a majority employing the reflectance spectra mode. Our analysis found that standard normal variate (SNV), detrend (DT), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) are the most commonly used spectral data processing methods. The findings indicate that NIRS technology can provide accurate and reliable measurements of key livestock diet quality parameters such as crude protein, fibre, and moisture content. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with NIRS technology and provide recommendations for future research directions to further advance the use of NIRS technology in the livestock industry.

Protective Effects of Some Graded Iranian Honey Samples Against Cold Water Immersion‐Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

ABSTRACTHoney has a rich history of treating gastrointestinal diseases due to its diverse bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the protective effects of select Iranian honeys against cold water immersion stress (CWIS)‐induced ulcers in rats. Forty male Wistar rats (250–280 g) were randomly assigned to eight groups (n = 5): control, CWIS, and groups treated with strong (eucalyptus, Annaab, and Jangale) and weak honeys (Chand Giah, Sumaq, Gaz) + CWIS. Honey selection was based on antioxidant capacity, phenolic content, and protein concentration. Rats received 20% honey in water (1 mL/kg) orally twice daily for 14 days; controls received water. After a 24‐h fast, rats underwent 3‐h CWIS to induce ulcers. Serum samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiol groups, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) levels. Stomachs were assessed for ulcer severity (gastric ulcer index), gastric juice volume, and histopathological changes. Honey types were categorized as strong (eucalyptus, Annaab, and Jangale) or weak (Chand Giah, Sumaq, and Gaz) based on total phenolic content, antioxidant effects (FRAP and DPPH), and protein levels. Ulcer group showed significant increases in MDA (64%) and TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels (98.5% and 111.6%), and decreases in ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1 picrylhydrazyl (FRAP, DPPH, and thiol levels [26%, 14.39%, and 26%]) compared to controls. Strong honey groups exhibited 50% lower gastric ulcer index compared to weak honey groups. This study showed that strong honeys, due to their higher phenolic, total protein, and antioxidant content, offer greater protection against gastric damage and oxidative stress compared to weaker honeys. These results highlight the importance of bioactive compounds in honey's therapeutic properties. Therefore, high‐quality honeys with higher phenolic content can be considered as therapeutic supplements for gastrointestinal disorders, especially those caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Different nitrogen conditions regulating extracellular polymeric substances and erosion resistance of sewer sediment: Mechanism of microbial metabolism and molecular response

Nitrogen biotransformation plays a vital role in the metabolism of microbial communities in sewers. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by microbial communities can form gel-like sewer sediments, causing clogging of the sewer. However, knowledge on the effects of varying nitrogen conditions on the erosion resistance of sewer sediments and EPS produced by sewer microorganisms is limited. In this study, two typical organic/inorganic nitrogen ratios of sewage were reproduced in simulated sewer reactors, i.e., 3/7 (R1 group) and 7/3 (R2 group). Higher organic nitrogen (ON) concentrations were found to increase the critical erosion shear stress by 26.43%; this was ascribed to increased particle diameter, weakened electrostatic repulsion of sediments and stimulated EPS secretion in the R2 group. The protein and polysaccharide contents of the R2 group were 48.84% and 34.25% higher than those of the R1 group, respectively, which was supported by increased gene abundances for aromatic amino acid synthesis, general secretory pathways of protein, and synthesis of precursors and polysaccharides. Tightly-bound EPS in R2 group exhibited increased contents of hydrophobic protein secondary structures and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, thereby promoting the formation of gel-like sediment structures with enhanced erosion resistance. However, the microbial diversity and the abundance of key genes involved in EPS generation and secretion (e.g., tyrB, yajC, secB, gumF, and gumH) obviously decreased in the R1 group. Moreover, high ON concentrations increased microbial diversity and enhanced microbial glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle and ammonium assimilation. This study reveals the formation mechanisms of EPS in sewer sediments under different nitrogen conditions and their effects on sediment erosion resistance, which contributed to improved sewer system operation and sewer sediment control.

Size matters: Biomolecular compositions of small and large extracellular vesicles in the urine of glioblastoma patients.

The promise of urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) in biomarker discovery is emerging. However, the characteristics and compositions of different uEV subpopulations across normal physiological and pathological states require rigorous explication. We recently reported proteomic signatures of small (s)-uEVs (<200nm membranous nanoparticles) and described putative biomarkers corresponding to the diagnosis, tumour burden and recurrence of the lethal adult primary brain tumour, glioblastoma. Here, we comprehensively characterise uEV populations with significantly different mean and mode particle sizes obtained by differential centrifugation at 100,000×g (100K-uEVs; smaller) and 17,000×g (17K-uEVs; larger) using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and quantitative data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. We show distinct differences in protein and lipid content, prominent protein secondary structures, and proteome distributions between uEV populations that can distinguish glioblastoma patients from healthy controls and correspond to clinically relevant tumour changes (i.e., recurrence and treatment resistance). Among the key findings is a putative seven-protein biomarker panel associated with 17K-uEVs that could distinguish all glioblastoma patients from healthy controls and accurately classify 98.2% of glioblastoma samples. These novel, significant findings demonstrate that both uEV populations offer individual and combined biomarker potential. Further research is warranted to elucidate the complete diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive capabilities of often-neglected 17K-uEV populations.

Inhibition of denitrification and enhancement of microbial interactions in the AGS system by high concentrations of quinoline

Quinoline represents a highly toxic and structurally stable nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound in coking wastewater, posing a potential threat to human beings and the ecological environment. In this study, we investigated the impact of gradually elevating quinoline concentration on pollutant removal efficiency, sludge characteristics, microbial community and their interactions in the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) system. The results demonstrated that AGS was capable of effectively degrading quinoline, with a final removal rate of 90 mg/L quinoline reaching 98.54 ± 0.28%. Notably, the denitrification process was significantly impeded in the presence of 90 mg/L quinoline, with the Phase D effluent displaying a notably high NO3--N concentration of 37.09 ± 21.81 mg/L, primarily attributed to the reduced abundance of norank_f_A4b bacteria. As the quinoline concentration increased, the sludge particle size diminished from 3.46 to 2.60 mm, while the settling performance deteriorated significantly, escalating from 31.29 ± 1.63 mL/g to 62.32 ± 2.87 mL/g. Meanwhile, the protein (PN) content in EPS gradually increased (from 19.87 ± 0.88 mg/g MLVSS to 51.22 ± 3.21 mg/g MLVSS), while the polysaccharide (PS) content fluctuated. Quinoline profoundly modified microbial community composition and structure, with deterministic processes dominating community assembly. Network analysis indicated intensified and complex microbial interactions at 90 mg/L quinoline, characterized by significantly higher positive correlations. In addition, rare taxa (RT) dominated the network nodes, with 74 of 93 key species belonging to RT, highlighting their pivotal roles in sustaining system functions and strengthening microbial connections. This study provides new insights into the effects of quinoline on microbial community structure and interactions in AGS system.

Copper sulfate-induced stress in Spinach: Metabolic pathway disruption and plant response

Copper sulfate (CuSO4) stress profoundly affects plant growth by interfering with key metabolic pathways. This disruption leads to significant alterations in various physiological parameters, ultimately impacting the overall health and productivity of the plant. This study assessed the impact of CuSO4 stress on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) through a pot experiment using CuSO4 concentrations of 0, 75, 125, and 175 ppm. We noticed that at 75 ppm, CuSO4 improved plant height and the concentration of soluble sugar and ascorbic acid compared to the control. Additionally, amino acid, phenol, proline, fresh weight, and moisture content peaked at 175 ppm. Conversely, at 125 and 175 ppm, plant height, dry weight, leaf area, and concentrations of ascorbic acid and sugar significantly decreased. Moreover, at 175 ppm, there were substantial decreases in chlorophyll a (14.8%), chlorophyll b (73.6%), carotenoids (15%), and photosynthetic rates compared to the control. However, the chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b ratio increased by 29.53% at 175 ppm. In addition, protein and phenol contents diminished at 75 and 125 ppm. Elevated CuSO4 levels increased non-protein thiol levels while reducing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione peroxidase. Stress hormones such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene increased with CuSO4 stress, whereas growth hormones indol-acetic acid and gibberellic acid declined. This study demonstrates that spinach shows improved growth and metabolic function at 75 ppm CuSO4, indicating tolerance to mild stress. However, higher CuSO4 concentrations (125 and 175 ppm) significantly reduce growth parameters, chlorophyll content, and enzyme activities, highlighting the need for careful CuSO4 management in agriculture to avoid adverse effects on plant health and productivity.