Insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis towards Agrotis exclamationis larvae-A widespread and underestimated pest of the Palearctic zone.

acillus thuringiensis is an entomopathogenic bacterium commonly used as a bioinsecticide against numerous invertebrate pests. However, the efficacy of this microbe has not yet been determined towards Agrotis exclamationis-a lepidopteran, polyphagous pest, widespread throughout the Palearctic zone. In this work we have detected very low susceptibility of A. exclamationis to B. thuringiensis commercial strains, used as microbial formulations in pest control. To investigate this matter, the biological activity of six selected (Cry1Aa, Cry1Ca, Cry1Ia, Cry2Ab, Cry9Ea and Vip3Aa), heterogously-expressed Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins has been assessed towards A. exclamationis. Only Cry9Ea and Vip3Aa caused significant mortality in the tested pest species, with LC50 values of 950 and 140 ng/cm2, respectively. The histopathological effects of Cry9Ea and Vip3Aa on A. exclamationis were determined. On the other hand, Cry1- and Cry2-type toxins, which are the main active molecules of the majority of currently-used B. thuringiensis-based biocontrol agents (including the commercial strains tested in this work), did not cause mortality in target insect, but only different levels of growth inhibition. Moreover, in the case of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ia hormesis has been observed-a phenomenon that may be disadvantageous in implementation of these proteins in pest management. The obtained results broaden the existing knowledge regarding B. thuringiensis insecticidal protein target range and depict variable susceptibility of A. exclamationis to different groups of Cry/Vip toxins. This work indicates Cry9Ea and Vip3Aa as good candidates for efficient biological control of A. exclamationis and possibly other Agrotinae and discusses the potential use of Vip3-type and Cry9-type insecticidal proteins as successful bioinsecticides.

Lifestyle, course of COVID-19, and risk of Long-COVID in non-hospitalized patients.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic remains a great challenge for the healthcare system. The widely reported prolonged signs and symptoms resulting from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (Long-COVID) require medical care. The aim of the study was to assess factors, including lifestyle variables, related to the course of COVID-19 infection and to assess their impact on prolonged symptoms in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1,847 (637 men and 1,210 women) non-hospitalized participants of the STOP-COVID registry of the PoLoCOV-Study who, following the COVID-19, underwent check-up examinations at the cardiology outpatient clinic were included in the analysis. Results: The study participants (median age 51 [41-62] years) were evaluated at 13.4 (8.4-23.6) weeks following the diagnosis of COVID-19. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.46 [95% CI 1.19-1.78]), body mass index (BMI; per 1 kg/m2: 1.02 [1.00-1.04]), hypertension (1.39 [1.07-1.81]), asthma (1.55 [1.06-2.27]), stress or overworking (1.54 [1.25-1.90]), and nightshift work (1.51 [1.06-2.14]) were independently related to the severity of symptoms during acute phase of the COVID-19 infection. The Long-COVID syndrome was independently related to the female sex (1.42 [1.13-1.79]), history of myocardial infarction (2.57 [1.04-6.32]), asthma (1.56 [1.01-2.41]), and severe course of the acute phase of the COVID-19 infection (2.27 [1.82-2.83]). Conclusion: Female sex, BMI, asthma, hypertension, nightshifts, and stress or overworking are significantly related to the severity of the acute phase of the COVID-19 infection, while female sex, asthma, history of myocardial infarction, and the severity of symptoms in the acute phase of COVID-19 are the predictors of Long-COVID in non-hospitalized patients. We did not find an independent relation between Long-COVID and the studied lifestyle factors.

Assessing the potential for sea-based macroalgae cultivation and its application for nutrient removal in the Baltic Sea.

Marine eutrophication is a pervasive and growing threat to global sustainability. Macroalgal cultivation is a promising circular economy solution to achieve nutrient reduction and food security. However, the location of production hotspots is not well known. In this paper the production potential of macroalgae of high commercial value was predicted across the Baltic Sea region. In addition, the nutrient limitation within and adjacent to macroalgal farms was investigated to suggest optimal site-specific configuration of farms. The production potential of Saccharina latissima was largely driven by salinity and the highest production yields are expected in the westernmost Baltic Sea areas where salinity is >23. The direct and interactive effects of light availability, temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations regulated the predicted changes in the production of Ulva intestinalis and Fucus vesiculosus. The western and southern Baltic Sea exhibited the highest farming potential for these species, with promising areas also in the eastern Baltic Sea. Macroalgal farming did not induce significant nutrient limitation. The expected spatial propagation of nutrient limitation caused by macroalgal farming was less than 100-250 m. Higher propagation distances were found in areas of low nutrient and low water exchange (e.g. offshore areas in the Baltic Proper) and smaller distances in areas of high nutrient and high water exchange (e.g. western Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga). The generated maps provide the most sought-after input to support blue growth initiatives that foster the sustainable development of macroalgal cultivation and reduction of in situ nutrient loads in the Baltic Sea.

Effects of different types of primary microplastics on early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Plastic pollution is recognized as serious threat to aquatic organisms. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of environmentally realistic concentrations of various microplastics (MPs) on survival, growth, development and induction of endocrine, geno- and cytotoxic responses in the early life stages of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish were exposed for 69-days, from embryos at eyed-stage to mobile yolk-sac larvae, to pre-production pellets (3000 µm; polystyrene - PS and polyethylene terephthalate - PET). Additionally, since salmonid larvae are particularly exposed to light polymers after swimming up from the bottom, fish were also treated with PE microspheres (150-180 µm; polyethylene - PE) for both long (69-days, from embryos at eyed-stage) and short period (29 days, from larvae 3 weeks after hatching) to test the development stage-related effect on the growth parameters and fitness. Hatching success, rate and the survival of larvae did not differ among treatments. Although some alterations were found in the length gain after the long-term exposure and in the yolk-sac exhaustion rate in all PE treatments, the final size of larvae did not differ from the respective controls. PE-treated larvae have shown elevated corticosterone concentrations being significantly higher in fish exposed from the embryo stage. It was indicated for the first time that mobile yolk-sac larvae ingested MPs (up to 24% of larvae contained microspheres). No changes were recorded in cytotoxicity endpoints in any of the treatments, but exposure to PS pellets resulted in significantly higher frequencies of genotoxicity endpoints compared to the control treatment. This effect and aforementioned alterations in PE-treated larvae might result from the exposure to toxic MPs leaches. The fact that selected PAHs' levels reached the highest values in PS pellets and PE microspheres must be underlined.

Beetles as Plant Pathogen Vectors.

Herbivorous insects, likewise, other organisms, are exposed to diverse communities of microbes from the surrounding environment. Insects and microorganisms associated with them share a range of relationships, including symbiotic and pathogenic. Insects damage plants by feeding on them and delivering plant pathogens to wounded places, from where pathogens spread over the plant. Thus insects can be considered as both pests and reservoirs or vectors of plant pathogens. Although beetles are not mentioned in the first place as plant pathogen vectors, their transmission of pathogens also takes place and affects the ecosystem. Here we present an overview of beetles as vectors of plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and Oomycota, which are responsible for developing plant diseases that can have a significant impact on crop yield and quality.

Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health.

Cinnamon is widely used as a food spice, but due to its antibacterial and pharmacological properties, it can also be used in processing, medicine and agriculture. The word "Cinnamon" can refer to the plant, processed material, or an extract. It is sometimes used as a substance, and sometimes used as a mixture or as compounds or a group. This article reviews research into the effectiveness of various forms of cinnamon for the control of plant diseases and pests in crops and during storage of fruit and vegetables. Cinnamon acts on pests mainly as a repellent, although in higher doses it has a biocidal effect and prevents egg-laying. Cinnamon and its compounds effectively hinder bacterial and fungal growth, and the phytotoxic effects of cinnamon make it a possible herbicide. This article presents the wide practical use of cinnamon for various purposes, mainly in agriculture. Cinnamon is a candidate for approval as a basic substance with protective potential. In particular, it can be used in organic farming as a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for use in plant protection, especially in preventive treatments. The use of natural products is in line with the restriction of the use of chemical pesticides and the principles of the EU's Green Deal.

Response of sediment-dwelling bivalves to microplastics and its potential implications for benthic processes.

Sediments are considered an ultimate sink for microplastic (MPs) but knowledge on MPs impacts on the benthic organisms is still limited. A microcosm experiment was performed to assess the effect of MPs on two sediment-dwelling bivalve species that differ in terms of their life¬styles and feeding behaviors (the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum and the Baltic clam Limecola balthica). Fitness of both bivalves, their vertical distribution in the sediment and activity at the sediment-water interface were studied following addition of PE microspheres of three different size fractions (63-75, 150-180 and 250-300 µm) in two concentrations (0.1 and 0.5% sediment dwt) to the sediment surface. Bivalve survival was generally high and did not vary significantly among treatments. Both bivalve species captured MPs but no significant effect on their body conditions and energy reserves was observed. However, some behavioural alterations were found. The near-surface-dwelling C. glaucum emerged from the sediment less often and in lower numbers suggesting lower activity in sediments amended with large and medium MPs served in higher concentration. Also vertical distribution of deeper-dwelling L. balthica differed among treatments. The clam penetrated deeper sediment layers in microcosms treated with MPs than in the control (on average 62% of the total number of bivalves found in the sediment layer 2-4 cm vs. 65% in the upper 2 cm) which may suggest an avoidance behaviour or escape reaction in response to MPs addition to the topmost sediment. Total sediment community oxygen consumption was significantly higher in MPs-amended sediments than in the control, with the highest rates in treatment with the largest microspheres. However, oxygen uptake increase seemed to be unrelated to addition of MPs per se, suggesting rather an interaction between MPs and bivalves. The need for future studies on MPs effects on benthic community structure and functioning is highlighted.

Do the graphene nanoflakes pose a potential threat to the polychaete Hediste diversicolor?

Graphene is a promising material with a wide range of future applications that could potentially lead to its transfer from numerous water and terrestrial sources to the sea, thus fate and effects of graphene in the marine ecosystem deserve attention. Within this work, the impact of the short- and long-term exposure (36 h and 24 days) of the marine benthic polychaete Hediste diversicolor to various concentrations (36 h: 0.4, 4, 40 and 400 mg L-1; 24 days: 4 and 40 mg L-1) of the pristine graphene multilayer nanoflakes (of thickness 8-12 nm) was investigated. Experiments revealed a limited toxic effect of graphene on H. diversicolor. Although the polychaetes ingested graphene, no impact on their total energy content was found. The toxic effect expressed by significant elevation of catalase activity indicating activation of defence mechanisms was recorded but only at the early stage of exposure. Activities of other antioxidant and cellular damage biomarkers (SOD, GST, GSH, MDA, CBO) remained unaffected. Moreover, no neurotoxic effect expressed by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was observed. Substantial inter-individual variability in the activities of some biomarkers at the end of the long-term experiment was found. Polychaetes were buried deeper in the sediment with graphene than in the controls indicating an escape reaction and avoidance behaviour. The latter may lead to the transfer of graphene from the sediment surface to deeper sediment layers with unknown consequences for the benthic ecosystem.

Effects of chronic exposure to microplastics of different polymer types on early life stages of sea trout Salmo trutta.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a long-term (113 days) exposure to microplastics on the development and induction of endocrine, geno- and cytotoxic responses in early life stages of sea trout Salmo trutta. Microplastic particles (3000 µm) of three most commonly mass-produced polymers (polystyrene - PS, polyethylene terephthalate - PET and polyethylene - PE) were applied in environmentally realistic concentrations (0.1% of sediment dry weight) in a laboratory experiment imitating the natural environment, typical for sea trout spawning grounds. The exposure of the sea trout, from fertilized eggs to mobile yolk-sac larvae, to microplastics did not affect the hatching success (the survival of embryos), hatching rate and the incubation period. Microplastics of any tested polymer type also had no adverse effect on the larvae survival, growth rate and the rate of yolk sack absorption. Similarly, no changes in frequencies of detected cytotoxicity endpoints compared to the control group were recorded. Exposure to polymer particles induced however the formation of genotoxicity endpoints (nuclear buds, micronuclei and blebbed nuclei cells). The level of total genotoxicity (ΣGentox) in fish larvae erythrocytes increased significantly in the following sequence: PS > PET > PE. No significant changes in the whole body corticosterone, dehydrocorticosterone and cortisone concentrations due to exposure to microplastics were recorded, while cortisol was detected in larvae exposed to PS. Our results show that long-term, non-ingestion related exposure to microplastics does not affect development of S. trutta early life stages but may lead to genotoxic responses. PS seems to be the most hazardous among all polymers studied. This is the first study demonstrating non-ingestion related toxicity of microplastics to the early life stages of fish.

Infrared Thermography as an Indicator of Heat Loss in Fur-Chewing Chinchillas (Chinchilla Lanigera).

Fur-chewing is a common problem in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). It may affect the welfare of animals due to heat loss, thereby possibly impacting food and water intake to maintain body temperature. In this context, infrared thermography seems to be a suitable method of measuring heat emissions from the surface of objects. Sexually mature male domestic chinchillas were divided into two groups: "non-fur chewers", exhibiting normal behaviour (n = 25), and "fur chewers" displaying fur-chewing behaviour (n = 23). Food and water intake (mean ± SD) measured in the control animals amounted to 20.7 ± 4.52 g and 15.9 ± 3.45 mL, while in fur-chewing chinchillas were 25% and 33% higher, respectively. Metabolic energy intake, were calculated 2.2 and 2.8 W for the control and fur-chewing animals, respectively. Heat flux through chewed areas was 6.06 mW cm-2, which is 2.8 times higher than through undamaged chinchilla fur. To sum up, thermal imagingexplicitly shows that fur-chewing causes increased heat loss. Disturbances in the maintenance of thermal homeostasis may be an additional factor that reduces the welfare of these animals.

Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on the behavior and bioenergetics of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an electromagnetic field (EMF) of value typically recorded in the vicinity of submarine cables (50 Hz, 1 mT) on the behavior and bioenergetics of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor. No avoidance or attraction behavior to EMF was shown, but the burrowing activity of H. diversicolor was enhanced in EMF treatment, indicating a stimulating effect on bioturbation potential. The polychaete maintained a positive energy balance and high amount (85% of assimilated energy) of energy available for individual production (scope for growth) after exposure to EMF. Food consumption and respiration rates were not affected but ammonia excretion rate was significantly reduced in EMF-exposed animals compared to the control conditions (geomagnetic field). The mechanisms behind this effect remain, however, unclear. This is the first study demonstrating the effects of environmentally realistic EMF value on the behavior and physiology of marine invertebrates, thus there is a need for more research.

Are magnetic and electromagnetic fields of anthropogenic origin potential threats to early life stages of fish?

The number of underwater cables transferring electric current in sea and freshwater environments is constantly increasing. As a result, the risk of negative effects of magnetic fields generated in the vicinity of those cables on fish eggs and larvae is also growing. This is especially the case for species that settle on the bottom for certain periods of time during early development. To study those effects, eggs and larvae of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were subjected under experimental conditions to a static magnetic field (MF) of 10 m T and a 50 Hz electromagnetic field (EMF) of 1 m T for a period of 36 days (i.e., from eyed egg stage to approximately 26 days post hatching, dph). Neither MF nor EMF had significant effect on embryonic or larval mortality, hatching time, larval growth, or the time of larvae swim-up from the bottom. However, both MF and EMF enhanced the yolk-sac absorption rate. Although it was not related directly to magnetic field effect, it was also shown that larvae with absorbed yolk-sacs by the time of swim-up were less efficient in taking advantage of available food at first feeding (i.e., obtained smaller weight at age). That indicates the importance of processes affecting yolk-sac absorption rate.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of 50 Hz 1 mT electromagnetic field on larval rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Baltic clam (Limecola balthica) and common ragworm (Hediste diversicolor).

The aim of this research was to assess genotoxicity and cytotoxicity responses in aquatic animals exposed to 50 Hz 1 m T electromagnetic field (EMF). Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at early stages of development were exposed to EMF for 40 days, whereas marine benthic invertebrates - the common ragworm Hediste diversicolor and the Baltic clam Limecola balthica - for 12 days. To define genotoxicity and cytotoxicity responses in selected animals, assays of nuclear abnormalities in peripheral blood erythrocytes of O. mykiss, coelomocytes of H. diversicolor and gill cells of L. balthica were performed. Induction of formation of micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds (NB), nuclear buds on filament cells (NBf) and cells with blebbed nuclei (BL) were assessed as genotoxicity endpoints, and 8-shaped nuclei, fragmented (Fr), apoptotic (Ap) and binucleated (BN) cells as cytotoxicity endpoints. Exposure to EMF affected all studied species but with varying degrees. The strongest responses to EMF treatment were elicited in L. balthica, in which six out of the total eight analyzed geno- and cytotoxicity endpoints were significantly elevated. Significantly induced frequencies of MN were detected in O. mykiss and H. diversicolor cells, NBf and BL only in gill cells of L. balthica, and NB in analyzed tissues of all the test species. As cytotoxicity endpoints, a significant elevation in frequencies of cells with 8-shaped nuclei was found in O. mykiss and L. balthica, while Ap and BN was observed only in L. balthica. EMF exposure did not induce any significant cytotoxic activity in H. diversicolor coelomocytes. The present study is the first to reveal the genotoxic and cytotoxic activity of 1 m T EMF in aquatic animals, and, consequently, the first one to report the adverse effect of this factor on common marine invertebrates and early life stages of fish.