Geometrically Constrained Organoboron Species as Lewis Superacids and Organic Superbases.

This report unveils an advancement in the formation of a Lewis superacid (LSA) and an organic superbase by the geometrical deformation of an organoboron species towards a T-shaped geometry. The boron dication [2]2+ supported by an amido diphosphine pincer ligand features both a large fluoride ion affinity (FIA>SbF5 ) and hydride ion affinity (HIA>B(C6 F5 )3 ), which qualifies it as both a hard and soft LSA. The unusual Lewis acidic properties of [2]2+ are further showcased by its ability to abstract hydride and fluoride from Et3 SiH and AgSbF6 respectively, and effectively catalyze the hydrodefluorination, defluorination/arylation, as well as reduction of carbonyl compounds. One and two-electron reduction of [2]2+ affords stable boron radical cation [2]⋅+ and borylene 2, respectively. The former species has an extremely high spin density of 0.798e at the boron atom, whereas the latter compound has been demonstrated to be a strong organic base (calcd. pKBH + (MeCN)=47.4) by both theoretical and experimental assessment. Overall, these results demonstrate the strong ability of geometric constraining to empower the central boron atom.

Investigation of membrane fouling and mechanism induced by extracellular organic matter during long-term exposure to pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

This study investigated ultrafiltration membrane fouling by extracellular organic matter (EOM) and the mechanism operating during long-term exposure to pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The results indicated that carbamazepine and diclofenac in algal-laden water altered the filtration flux and membrane fouling by EOM. Exposure to low-concentration carbamazepine (0.25 µg/L) improved the filtration flux and the total (Rtot) and reversible fouling resistance (Rc), whereas the filtration flux and Rtot and Rc were reduced when EOM was used during long-term exposure to high carbamazepine concentrations (>1 µg/L). Both Rtot and Rc were increased when algae were exposed to 0.25 µg/L diclofenac, whereas the filtration flux and Rtot and Rc were alleviated when algae were exposed to >1 µg/L diclofenac. Moreover, carbamazepine and diclofenac (0.25 µg/L - 1000 µg/L) in water enhanced the irreversible fouling resistance (Rb) when ultrafiltration was used to treat algal-laden waters. The mechanism indicated that membrane fouling induced by standard blocking was transformed to complete blocking when EOM was exposed to high levels of carbamazepine (>0.25 µg/L) in the initial filtration process, whereas cake layer formation played an important role during the later filtration process; with low carbamazepine levels (0.25 µg/L), standard blocking of EOM was dominant during the entire filtration process. The membrane fouling mechanism also changed when algal-laden waters were exposed to diclofenac, the membrane fouling was transformed from complete blocking to standard blocking when DFC was present in the initial filtration process, whereas cake layer formation exerted an important role during the late filtration process. This research provides important information on the long-term risks caused by pharmaceutical and personal care products and potential threats to membrane treatment.

FAM49B promotes breast cancer proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance by stabilizing ELAVL1 protein and regulating downstream Rab10/TLR4 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of death in women. Previous studies have demonstrated that FAM49B is implicated in several tumor progression, however, the role and mechanism of FAM49B in BC remain to be explored. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to systematically study the role of FAM49B in the proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and chemoresistance of BC, as well as the corresponding molecular mechanisms and downstream target. METHODS: The ONCOMINE databases and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases were analyzed to find FAM49B and its prognostic values in BC. FAM49B expression in BC and adjacent non-tumor tissues was detected by western blot and IHC. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to identify the prognosis of BC patients. After FAM49B knockdown in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, a combination of co-immunoprecipitation, MTT, migration, and apoptosis assays, nude mouse xenograft tumor model, in addition to microarray detection and data analysis was used for further mechanistic studies. RESULTS: In BC, the results showed that the expression level of FAM49B was significantly higher than that in normal breast tissue, and highly expression of FAM49B was significantly positively correlated with tumor volume, histological grade, lymph node metastasis rate, and poor prognosis. Knockdown of FAM49B inhibited the proliferation and migration of BC cells in vitro and in vivo. Microarray analysis revealed that the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway was inhibited upon FAM49B knockdown. In addition, the gene interaction network and downstream protein validation of FAM49B revealed that FAM49B positively regulates BC cell proliferation and migration by promoting the Rab10/TLR4 pathway. Furthermore, endogenous FAM49B interacted with ELAVL1 and positively regulated Rab10 and TLR4 expression by stabilizing ELAVL1. Moreover, mechanistic studies indicated that the lack of FAM49B expression in BC cells conferred more sensitivity to anthracycline and increased cell apoptosis by downregulating the ELAVL1/Rab10/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that FAM49B functions as an oncogene in BC progression, and may provide a promising target for clinical diagnosis and therapy of BC.

Cloning and characterisation of a Δ9 fatty acyl desaturase-like gene from the red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and its expression analysis under cold stress.

Desaturase is one of the key enzymes in the unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathway. Δ9 desaturase catalyzes the synthesis of oleic acid from stearic acid by introducing double bonds in the 9th and 10th carbon chains, thereby increasing the content of MUFAs in the body. In order to explore the main function of the Δ9 desaturase gene under low temperature stress, RACE-PCR technology was used in this study to clone the full-length sequence of the CqFAD9-like from the hepatopancreas of red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. The full length of the sequence is 1236 bp, and the open reading frame is 1041 bp, encoding 346 amino acid residues. The 5 'UTR is 116 bp, the 3' UTR is 79 bp, and the 3 'UTR contains a PloyA tail. The predicted theoretical isoelectric point and molecular weight are 8.68 and 40.28 kDa, respectively. Homology analysis showed that the sequence had the highest similarity with FAD9 from crustaceans. The results of real-time PCR showed that the expression level of this gene was highest in the hepatopancreas, which was significantly higher than other tissues, followed by the ovaries, brain ganglion and stomach. At the same time, the expression of the CqFAD9-like in hepatopancreas of crayfish cultured at 25, 20, 15 and 9 °C for four weeks was detected. The results showed that expression of the FAD9 gene increased gradually with decreasing temperature, indicating that metabolic desaturation might play a regulatory role during cold stress.

Modular and Stereoselective Synthesis of C-Aryl Glycosides via Catellani Reaction.

In this work, we describe a Catellani-type C-H glycosylation to provide rapid access to various highly decorated α-C-(hetero)aryl glycosides in a modular and stereoselective manner (>90 examples). The termination step is flexible, which is demonstrated by ipso-Heck reaction, hydrogenation, Suzuki coupling, and Sonogashira coupling. Application of this methodology has been showcased by preparing glycoside-pharmacophore conjugates and a dapagliflozin analogue. Notably, the technology developed herein represents an unprecedented example of Catellani-type alkylation involving an SN1 pathway.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Construction of Isocoumarins via Dual C-H/C-C Activation of Sulfoxonium Ylides.

A ruthenium(II)-catalyzed annulation between two molecules of sulfoxonium ylides is achieved, generating a variety of substituted isocoumarins in reasonable yields. This strategy features dual C-H/C-C activation in one pot and has a wide substrate scope and good functional group tolerance.

Palladium-Catalyzed Chemoselective Synthesis of 2-Aminocinnamyl Esters via Sequential Amination and Olefination of Aryl Iodides.

We report a highly chemoselective palladium-catalyzed Catellani-type amination of aryl iodides terminated by the Heck reaction using allylic esters as terminating reagents. 2-Aminocinnamyl esters were formed exclusively via ß-H elimination rather than ß-OAc elimination without the assistance of a silver salt. This protocol represents a useful extension of Catellani-type transformations.

Palladium-Catalyzed ortho-C-H Methylation of Benzoic Acids.

A palladium-catalyzed methylation of C-H bonds of benzoic acids with di-tert-butyl peroxide as the methylating reagent under an external oxidant and ligand-free conditions has been achieved. The reaction is found to be directed by a weakly coordinating carboxyl group, offering a facile route for the synthesis of highly functionalized ortho-methyl benzoic acids.

Efficacy and Radiation Exposure of Ultra-Low-Dose Chest CT at 100 kVp with Tin Filtration in CT-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy for Small Pulmonary Lesions Using a Third-Generation Dual-Source CT Scanner.

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigate efficacy and radiation dose of ultra-low-dose CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) at 100 kVp with tin filtration (100Sn kVp) for small pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study enrolled and randomly assigned 210 patients to standard-dose CT (n = 70) or ultra-low-dose CT (n = 140; 1:2 randomization scheme) protocol. Standard-dose CT settings were reference 110 kVp and 50 mAs, and ultra-low-dose CT settings were fixed at 100Sn kVp and 70 mAs. All PCNBs in patients with small pulmonary lesions (< 3 cm) were performed on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner. Diagnostic performance, complication rate, image quality, and radiation dose were compared. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for diagnosis of malignancy were 95.7%, 100%, and 96.9% with standard-dose CT and 93.8%, 100%, and 95.4% with ultra-low-dose CT (P > .05). Complication rate showed no significant differences between protocols (P > .05). Mean volume CT dose index) and total dose-length product were significantly lower in ultra-low-dose CT compared with standard-dose CT (0.24 mGy vs 3.3 mGy ± 1.1 and 9.84 mGy-cm ± 0.70 vs 110.5 mGy-cm ± 45.1; P < .001). Effective dose for ultra-low-dose CT was significantly lower than that for standard-dose CT (0.14 mSv ± 0.02 vs 1.78 mSv ± 0.76; -92.1%; P < .001). Image quality of ultra-low-dose CT met the requirements of PCNB. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-low-dose CT-guided PCNB at 100Sn kVp spectral shaping significantly reduced radiation dose on a third-generation dual-source CT, while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy and safety for small pulmonary lesions.

Phase retardation measurement of an arbitrary wave plate based on magneto-optical modulating and residue detecting of the base frequency component of the signal.

Wave plates (WPs) are key components in optical polarization systems whose phase retardations should be measured accurately. The key point of most light extinction methods focuses on how to precisely judge the system's extinction state and then confirm corresponding angle positions of the optical components. Usually the extinction state of a measurement system is judged by detecting residue of outgoing light intensity. In this Letter, a method of measuring the phase retardation of an arbitrary WP based on magneto-optical modulation is proposed. A magneto-optical modulator is placed between the standard quarter-WP and the second polarizer on the basis of the traditional optical path. The measurement signal is obtained after the outgoing light passing through a band-pass filter whose center frequency is the same as the frequency of the magneto-optic modulator's driving voltage. This method detects the base frequency component instead of the whole intensity of the outgoing light, so as to get better judgement accuracy of the system's extinction state. The arbitrary WP's phase retardation can be accurately derived by detecting the residue of the base frequency component of the outgoing light signal and then judging the angle position of the second polarizer when the system is in the state of extinction. The corresponding theoretical formulas are deduced by the Jones matrix, and the WP measuring system is established. The error analysis shows that the system measurement uncertainty is about 4.5' if the experiment temperature varies in the range of 0.1°C. Experiment results on half-WPs and quarter-WPs show that the presented method is in good agreement with other methods. The measurement repeatability is also good, with the standard deviation about 2'.

Palladium-Catalyzed Catellani-Type Bis-silylation and Bis-germanylation of Aryl Iodides and Norbornenes.

A palladium-catalyzed three-component reaction of aryl iodides, norbornenes, and hexamethyldisilane/hexamethyldigermane has been developed for the assembly of highly functionalized disilanes/digermanes. The potential synthetic utility of this methodology was highlighted by the late-stage manipulations of natural products and the iterative C-H bis-silylation for the synthesis of highly decorated arenes.

Synthesis of 2-Aminopyridines via a Base-Promoted Cascade Reaction of N-Propargylic ß-Enaminones with Formamides.

N-Substituted formamides as nucleophiles react with in situ-generated 1,4-oxazepines from N-propargylic ß-enaminones followed by spontaneous N-deformylation to deliver densely substituted 2-aminopyridines in good yields (31-88%). The formyl group is found to be a superior traceless activating group of free amines and would ultimately be removed in situ. This reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature, in the presence of NaOH as sole additive, without protection from the atmosphere and generates H2O and sodium formate as byproducts.

The complete chloroplast genome of Typha angustifolia and its phylogenetic position in Typhaceae.

Typha angustifolia, commonly known as narrowleaf cattail, is a marginal, semi-aquatic, herbaceous perennial species with both ecological and edible values. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of T. angustifolia was assembled using the next-generation sequencing technology. The whole cp genome was 161,597 bp in length, consisting of a large single copy (LSC, 89,119 bp) and a small single copy (SSC, 18,550 bp) separated by two copies of inverted region (IR, 26,964 bp). The genome encoded 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, four rRNA genes, with 19 duplicated genes in the IR regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that T. angustifolia is sister to Typha orientalis in the family Typhaceae. The cp genome of T. angustifolia is reported for the first time, which will provide essential and important genetic resources for future phylogenetic investigation within the genus Typha.

Effects on growth performance and immunity of Monopterus albus after high temperature stress.

To investigate the impact of the effect of high temperature stimulation on Monopterus albus larvae after a certain period of time, five experimental groups were established at different temperatures. Then, the M. albus under high temperature stress was fed at 30°C for 70 days. After that, the growth index of the M. albus was counted and analyzed. In terms of growth index, high temperature stress had significant effects on FCR, FBW, WGR, and SGR of M. albus (p < 0.05). The SR increased after being stimulated by temperature (p < 0.1). The study revealed that liver cells of M. albus were harmed by elevated temperatures of 36°C and 38°C. In the experimental group, the activities of digestive enzymes changed in the same trend, reaching the highest point in the 32°C group and then decreasing, and the AMS activity in the 38°C group was significantly different from that in the 30°C group (p < 0.05). The activities of antioxidase in liver reached the highest at 34°C, which was significantly different from those at 30°C (p < 0.05). In addition, the expression levels of TLR1, C3, TNF-α, and other genes increased in the experimental group, reaching the highest point at 34°C, and the expression level of the IL-1ß gene reached the highest point at 32°C, which was significantly different from that at 30°C (p < 0.05). However, the expression level of the IRAK3 gene decreased in the experimental group and reached its lowest point at 34°C (p < 0.05). The expression level of the HSP90α gene increased with the highest temperature stimulus and reached its highest point at 38°C (p < 0.05). In the α diversity index of intestinal microorganisms in the experimental group, the observed species, Shannon, and Chao1 indexes in the 34°C group were the highest (p < 0.05), and ß diversity analysis revealed that the intestinal microbial community in the experimental group was separated after high temperature stimulation. At the phylum level, the three dominant flora are Proteus, Firmicutes, and Bacteroides. Bacteroides and Macrococcus abundance increased at the genus level, but Vibrio and Aeromonas abundance decreased. To sum up, appropriate high-temperature stress can enhance the immunity and adaptability of M. albus. These results show that the high temperature stimulation of 32°C-34°C is beneficial to the industrial culture of M. albus.

Biochemical, Histological, and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Underlying Differences in Flesh Quality between Wild and Farmed Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus).

The present study aimed to systematically investigate the underlying differences in flesh quality between wild and farmed Monopterus albus. Fifteen healthy M. albus per group with an average body weight of 45 g were sampled to analyze muscle parameters by biochemical indicators, histomorphology, and molecular biology. Compared with the wild fish, the farmed M. albus in flesh had lower crude protein, collagen, lysine, histidine, total amino acids, SFA, n-3 PUFA contents, and n-3/n-6 ratio (p < 0.05), and higher moisture, crude lipid, crude ash, MUFA, n-6PUFA, and total PUFA contents (p < 0.05). The thawing loss, drip loss, steaming loss, and boiling loss in the farmed group were significantly higher, and hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience were significantly lower than those in the wild group (p < 0.05). In addition, higher muscle fiber density and lower muscle fiber diameter were observed in wild M. albus (p < 0.05). In muscle transcriptome profiling, differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways are primarily associated with muscle development, protein synthesis, catabolism, lipid metabolism, and immunity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation that compares the flesh quality between wild and farmed M. albus in terms of biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology levels. Overall, wild M. albus had a higher nutritional value and texture quality than farmed M. albus.

Comparative studies on the intestinal health of wild and cultured ricefield eel (Monopterus albus).

Fish intestinal health under intensive aquaculture mode plays an important role in growth, development, and immune function. The present study was aimed to systematically investigate the differences of intestinal health between wild and cultured Monopterus albus by biochemical parameters, histomorphology, and molecular biology. A total of 15 healthy M. albus per group, with an average body weight of 45 g, were sampled to analyze intestinal health parameters. Compared with wild fish, the cultured M. albus in the foregut had lower trypsin, lipase, SOD, CAT, T-AOC, and GSH-Px activities (P < 0.05) and higher amylase activity and MDA content (P < 0.05). The villus circumference and goblet cells in the cultured group were significantly lower than those in the wild group (P < 0.05). In addition, the cultured fish showed lower relative expression levels of occludin, zo-1, zo-2, claudin-12, claudin-15, mucin5, mucin15, lysozyme, complement 3, il-10, tgf-ß1, tgf-ß2, and tgf-ß3 (P < 0.05) and higher il-1ß, il-6, il-8, tnf-a, and ifnγ mRNA expressions than those of wild fish (P < 0.05). In terms of gut microbiota, the cultured group at the phylum level displayed higher percentages of Chlamydiae and Spirochaetes and lower percentages of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia compared to the wild group (P < 0.05). At the genus level, higher abundances of Pseudomonadaceae_Pseudomonas and Spironema and lower abundances of Lactococcus and Cetobacterium were observed in the cultured group than in the wild group (P < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the intestinal health status between wild and cultured M. albus in terms of biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology levels. Overall, the present study showed significant differences in intestinal health between wild and cultured M. albus and the main manifestations that wild M. albus had higher intestinal digestion, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal barrier functions than cultured M. albus. These results would provide theoretical basis for the subsequent upgrading of healthy aquaculture technology and nutrient regulation of intestinal health of cultured M. albus.

Gradual effects of gradient concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate on the antioxidant ability and gut microbiota of red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a typical persistent organic pollutant that is characterized by environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. In this study, we investigated the gut microbial response of the red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus after 28 days of exposure to 0 ng/L, 1 ng/L, 10 µg/L, or 10 mg/L of PFOS as a stressor. We measured oxidative stress-related enzyme activities and expression of molecules related to detoxification mechanisms to evaluate the toxic effects of PFOS. We found that PFOS disturbed microbial homeostasis in the gut of C. quadricarinatus, resulting in increased abundance of the pathogen Shewanella and decreased abundance of the beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus. The latter especially disturbed amino acid transport and carbohydrate transport. We also found that the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase were positively correlated with the expression levels of cytochrome P450 genes (GST1-1, GSTP, GSTK1, HPGDS, UGT5), which are products of PFOS-induced oxidative stress and play an antioxidant role in the body. The results of this study provided valuable ecotoxicological data to better understand the biological fate and effects of PFOS in C. quadricarinatus.

Effects of four types of natural bait on water quality, feeding, growth, and antioxidant enzyme activity of Monopterus albus in a recirculating aquaculture system.

Monopterus albus is one of China's renowned and superior aquaculture species, with its seedlings mainly sourced from wild capture. One of the bottlenecks in M. albus aquaculture is the high mortality rate and low feeding initiation rate from stocking wild fry to the initiation of feeding. In production, trash fish is commonly used to wean M. albus juveniles onto feeding. In this study, we introduced three other natural feeds, earthworms (EW), yellow mealworms (YMW), and fly maggots (FM), with frozen trash fish (TF) serving as the control group, to evaluate the effects of these four natural feeds on the survival rate, feeding initiation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and body composition of M. albus juveniles under recirculating water aquaculture conditions. The experiment comprised four treatments, each with three replicates. Each replicate consisted of stocking 150 M. albus juveniles weighing 10.02 ± 0.89 g in size, raised for 5 weeks. The survival rate of the YMW group was 73.33%-85.33%, which was significantly higher than that of the other three bait groups (p < 0.05). The four bait groups showed no significant differences in final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) (p > 0.05). The EW group showed the highest final body weight, with an average SGR of 2.73, whereas the YMW group had an average SGR of 1.87. The average daily feeding amount was significantly higher in EW and YMW groups than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The percentage of feeding amount to fish weight in the EW group reached 7.3% in the fifth week. After 5 weeks of cultivation, NO2 --N content was significantly higher in the waters of the TF and EW groups than in the waters of the FM and YMW groups (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in TAN content among the treatment groups (p > 0.05). Liver malondialdehyde content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the other bait groups (p < 0.05). GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in the EW group than in the FM group and YMW group. No significant differences in SOD and CAT activity and T-AOC were observed among the bait groups (p > 0.05). The increase in crude protein content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the FM group, but the increase in crude ash content was significantly lower in the TFgroup. In conclusion, Tenebrio molitor could potentially serve as one of the alternative feeds during the initial stages of M. albus juveniles stocking.

Multi-omics reveal toxicity mechanisms underpinning nanoplastic in redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus).

We investigated the effects of different nanoplastic (NP, size = 100 nm) concentrations on red crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and examined toxicity mechanisms. We established four concentration groups (control (CK): 0 µg/L; Low: 100 µg/L; Medium: 500 µg/L; and High: 1000 µg/L) and analyzed toxicity effects in C. quadricarinatus hepatopancreas using histopathological, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and fluorescence methods. NP exposure caused histological lesions and oxidative stress in hepatopancreas, and also significantly decreased glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.05) but significantly increased malondialdehyde content (MDA) (P < 0.05) in NP-treated groups. By analyzing different metabolic indicators, total cholesterol (T-CHO) content significantly increased (P < 0.05) and triglyceride (TG) content significantly decreased in Medium and High (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analyses revealed that NPs influenced apoptosis, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and P53 signaling pathways. Metabolomic analyses indicated some metabolic processes were affected by NPs, including bile secretion, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and cholesterol metabolism. Caspase 3, 8, and 9 distribution levels in hepatopancreatic tissues were also determined by immunofluorescence; positive caspase staining increased with increased NP concentrations. Additionally, by examining relative Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, and p53 mRNA expression levels, Bcl-2 expression was significantly decreased with increasing NP concentrations; and the expression of Bcl-2 was increasing significantly with the NPs concentration increasing. Bax expression in Low, Medium, and High groups was also significantly higher when compared with the CK group (P < 0.05); with High group levels significantly higher than in Low and Medium groups (P < 0.05). P53 expression was significantly increased in Low, Medium, and High groups (P < 0.05). Thus, NPs induced apoptosis in C. quadricarinatus hepatopancreatic cells, concomitant with increasing NP concentrations. Therefore, we identified mechanisms underpinning NP toxicity in C. quadricarinatus and provide a theoretical basis for exploring NP toxicity in aquatic organisms.

Effects of Substituting Tenebrio molitor and Elodea nuttallii as Feed on Growth, Flesh Quality and Intestinal Microbiota of Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of substituting a portion of feed with Tenebrio molitor (TM) and Elodea nuttallii (EN) on crayfish culture. A total of 270 crayfish (5.1 ± 0.4 g) were fed three different diet combinations (A: 100% feed; B: 80% feed + 10% TM + 10% EN; C: 75% feed + 15% TM + 10% EN) for 12 weeks. The findings demonstrated that group C had an important beneficial impact on the growth performance of crayfish. This was evidenced by a rise in digestive enzyme activity (trypsin, lipase, and cellulase) in the intestinal and hepatopancreas, as well as an upregulation in the expression of growth-related genes (ghsr, igfbp7, mhc, mlc1, mef2, and pax7) in the muscle. Furthermore, the assessment of the flesh quality of crayfish muscle in group C was conducted. The findings indicated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the energy value (moisture, crude protein, and crude lipid) within the muscle. The levels of delicious amino acids (Glu, Ala, Ser, Gly, and Tyr) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (ARA, DHA) were enhanced, resulting in an improved nutritional profile and flavor of the muscle while maintaining the Σn-3/Σn-6 ratio. The remodeling of the intestinal microbiota (abundance of Proteobacteria and ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota bacteria) also revealed improved growth performance. Additional research is necessary to ascertain whether excessive use of TM or EN feed substitution can have negative effects on crayfish culture.