Identifying Putative Biomarkers of Foodborne Pathogens Using a Metabolomic Approach.

Metabolomics is the study of low molecular weight biochemical molecules (typically <1500 Da) in a defined biological organism or system. In case of food systems, the term "food metabolomics" is often used. Food metabolomics has been widely explored and applied in various fields including food analysis, food intake, food traceability, and food safety. Food safety applications focusing on the identification of pathogen-specific biomarkers have been promising. This chapter describes a nontargeted metabolite profiling workflow using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for characterizing three globally important foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica, from selective enrichment liquid culture media. The workflow involves a detailed description of food spiking experiments followed by procedures for the extraction of polar metabolites from media, the analysis of the extracts using GC-MS, and finally chemometric data analysis using univariate and multivariate statistical tools to identify potential pathogen-specific biomarkers.

Comprehensive metabolic profiling of dioxin-like compounds exposure in laying hens: Implications for toxicity assessment.

The evaluation of toxicity related to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) is crucial for a comprehensive risk assessment in real-world exposure scenarios. This study employed a controlled feeding experiment to investigate the metabolic effects of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) on laying hens via feed exposure. Diets enriched with two concentrations (1.17 and 5.13 pg toxic equivalents (TEQ)/g dry weight (dw)) were administered over 14 days, followed by 28 days of clean feed. Metabolomics analyses of blood samples revealed significant metabolic variations between PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs exposed groups and controls, reflecting the induced metabolic disruption. Distinct changes were observed in sphingosine, palmitoleic acid, linoleate, linolenic acid, taurocholic acid, indole acrylic acid, and dibutyl phthalate levels, implying possible connections between PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs toxic effects and energy-neuronal imbalances, along with lipid accumulation and anomalous amino acid metabolism, impacting taurine metabolism. Moreover, we identified three differential endogenous metabolites-L-tryptophan, indole-3-acetaldehyde, and indole acrylic acid-as potential ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), suggesting their role in mediating PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs toxicity. This comprehensive investigation provides novel insights into the metabolic alterations induced by PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in laying hens, thereby enhancing our ability to assess risks associated with their exposure in human populations.

Targeted/untargeted metabolomics and antioxidant properties distinguish Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' from Citrus reticulata Blanco.

Dried citrus peel (DCP), also called "Chen Pi", has edible and medicinal value. However, the specific differences among various sources remain unknown. Herein, we collected six DCP species, namely, one Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' (CZG) and five Citrus reticulata Blanco (CRB). Targeted high-performance liquid chromatography and untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were employed to comprehensively compare the phenolic compounds and metabolites in DCP. Interestingly, 13 different phenolic compounds were noted in DCP. The total phenolic compound content in all CRB samples (58.86-127.65 mg/g) was higher than that of CZG (39.47 mg/g). Untargeted metabolomic revealed 1495 compounds, with 115 differentially expressed metabolites for CRBs and CZG, particularly flavonoids (38), terpenoids (15), and phenolic acids and derivatives (9). Lastly, antioxidant assays revealed that all CRB samples exhibited higher antioxidant activities compared with CZG. Therefore, our study results provide a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of citrus peels and their metabolites.

Energy insufficiency induced by high purine diet: Catalysts for renal impairment in hyperuricemia nephropathy rat model.

A high purine diet emerges as a significant risk factor for hyperuricemia, and this diet may potentiate hyperuricemia nephropathy. Despite this, the mechanistic underpinnings of kidney damage precipitated by a high purine diet warrant further research. In the current investigation, a hyperuricemia nephropathy rat model was developed through induction via a high purine diet. Subsequently, metabolomic and proteomic analyses were employed to explore the metabolic characteristics of the kidney and shed light on the corresponding mechanistic pathway. Finally, fluorescence imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) were utilized to validate the overarching energy metabolism state. The results revealed extensive damage to the kidneys of hyperuricemia nephropathy rats following eight weeks of induction via a high purine diet. We used metabolomic to found that acyl carnitines and L-carnitine reduced in high purine diet group, indicated abnormal fatty acid metabolism. Irregularities were discerned in metabolites and enzymes associated with fatty acid ß-oxidation, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation within the kidneys of hyperuricemia nephropathy rats by proteomic and co-expression network analysis. The application of fluorescence imaging and 18F-FDG-PET/CT substantiated the inhibition of fatty acid ß-oxidation and glycolysis within the kidneys of hyperuricemia nephropathy rats. On the contrary, a compensatory enhancement in the function of oxidative phosphorylation was observed. Given that the primary energy supply for renal function was derived from the metabolic pathway of fatty acids ß-oxidation, any disruption within this pathway could contribute to a deficit in the energy provision to the kidneys. Such an energy insufficiency potentially laid the groundwork for eventual renal impairment. In addition, inhibition of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors signaling pathway was noted in the present findings, which could further exacerbate the impediment in the ß-oxidation function. In conclusion, it was discerned that a deficiency in energy supply plays a critical role in the kidney injury in hyperuricemia nephropathy rats, thereby endorsing paying more attention to renal energy supply in the therapy of hyperuricemia nephropathy.

MetaWise: Combined Feature Selection and Weighting Method to Link the Serum Metabolome to Treatment Response and Survival in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant and devastating brain cancer characterized by its ability to rapidly and aggressively grow, infiltrating brain tissue, with nearly universal recurrence after the standard of care (SOC), which comprises maximal safe resection followed by chemoirradiation (CRT). The metabolic triggers leading to the reprogramming of tumor behavior and resistance are an area increasingly studied in relation to the tumor molecular features associated with outcome. There are currently no metabolomic biomarkers for GBM. Studying the metabolomic alterations in GBM patients undergoing CRT could uncover the biochemical pathways involved in tumor response and resistance, leading to the identification of novel biomarkers and the optimization of the treatment response. The feature selection process identifies key factors to improve the model's accuracy and interpretability. This study utilizes a combined feature selection approach, incorporating both Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Minimum Redundancy-Maximum Relevance (mRMR), alongside a rank-based weighting method (i.e., MetaWise) to link metabolomic biomarkers to CRT and the 12-month and 20-month overall survival (OS) status in patients with GBM. Our method shows promising results, reducing feature dimensionality when employed on serum-based large-scale metabolomic datasets (University of Florida) for all our analyses. The proposed method successfully identified a set of eleven serum biomarkers shared among three datasets. The computational results show that the utilized method achieves 96.711%, 92.093%, and 86.910% accuracy rates with 48, 46, and 33 selected features for the CRT, 12-month, and 20-month OS-based metabolomic datasets, respectively. This discovery has implications for developing personalized treatment plans and improving patient outcomes.

Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms of Browning in Camellia hainanica Callus through Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis.

Camellia hainanica is one of the camellia plants distributed in tropical regions, and its regeneration system and genetic transformation are affected by callus browning. However, the underlying mechanism of Camellia hainanica callus browning formation remains largely unknown. To investigate the metabolic basis and molecular mechanism of the callus browning of Camellia hainanica, histological staining, high-throughput metabolomics, and transcriptomic assays were performed on calli with different browning degrees (T1, T2, and T3). The results of histological staining revealed that the brown callus cells had obvious lignification and accumulation of polyphenols. Widely targeted metabolomics revealed 1190 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with 53 DAMs annotated as phenylpropanoids and flavonoids. Comparative transcriptomics revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the T2 vs. T1 associated with the biosynthesis and regulation of flavonoids and transcription factors in Camellia hainanica. Among them, forty-four enzyme genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis were identified, including phenylalaninase (PAL), 4-coumaroyl CoA ligase (4CL), naringenin via flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonol synthase (FLS), Chalcone synthase (CHS), Chalcone isomerase (CHI), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate transferase (HCT), Dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), anthocyanin reductase (LAR), anthocyanin synthetase (ANS), and anthocyanin reductase (ANR). Related transcription factors R2R3-MYB, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), and WRKY genes also presented different expression patterns in T2 vs. T1. These results indicate that the browning of calli in Camellia hainanica is regulated at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. The oxidation of flavonoids and the regulation of related structural genes and transcription factors are crucial decisive factors. This study preliminarily revealed the molecular mechanism of the browning of the callus of Camellia hainanensis, and the results can provide a reference for the anti-browning culture of Camellia hainanica callus.

Maternal Diet during Pregnancy Alters the Metabolites in Relation to Metabolic and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Young Adult Offspring.

Maternal nutrition during the critical period of pregnancy increases the susceptibility of offspring to the development of diseases later in life. This study aimed to analyze metabolite profiles to investigate the effect of maternal diet during pregnancy on changes in offspring plasma metabolites and to identify correlations with metabolic parameters. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to under- and overnutrition compared to controls, and their offspring were fed a standard diet after birth. Plasma metabolism was profiled in offspring at 16 weeks of age using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). We analyzed 80 metabolites to identify distinct metabolites and metabolic and neurodegenerative disease-associated metabolites that were sex-differentially altered in each group compared to controls (p < 0.05, VIP score > 1.0). Specifically, changes in 3-indolepropionic acid, anthranilic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid, which are involved in tryptophan and linoleic acid metabolism, were observed in male offspring and correlated with plasma leptin levels in male offspring. Our results suggest that fatty acids involved in tryptophan and linoleic acid metabolism, which are altered by the maternal diet during pregnancy, may lead to an increased risk of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases in the early life of male offspring.

Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Co-Culture of Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 with Trichoderma harzianum T11-W Exhibits Improved Antagonistic Activities against Fungal Phytopathogens.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the biocontrol activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms. This study specifically focuses on the effects of VOCs produced by the co-culture of Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 and Trichoderma harzianum T11-W for the control of two phytopathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerium Owen. The antagonistic activity of VOCs released in mono- and co-culture modes was evaluated by inhibition assays on a Petri dish and in detached fruit experiments, with the co-culture demonstrating significantly higher inhibitory effects on the phytopathogens on both the plates and fruits compared with the mono-cultures. Metabolomic profiles of VOCs were conducted using the solid-liquid microextraction technique, revealing 341 compounds with significant changes in their production during the co-culture. Among these compounds, linalool, dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, geranylacetone, 2-phenylethanol, and acetophenone were identified as having strong antagonistic activity through a standard inhibition assay. These key compounds were found to be related to the improved inhibitory effect of the B418 and T11-W co-culture. Overall, the results suggest that VOCs produced by the co-culture of B. vietnamiensis B418 and T. harzianum T11-W possess great potential in biological control.

Targeted metabolomic profiling of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Metabolomic investigations may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI patients were comprehensively examined via targeted metabolomic profiling, machine learning and weighted correlation network analysis. A total of 195 subjects, including 68 STEMI patients, 84 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 43 non-CVD patients, were enrolled in the study. Metabolomic profiling involving the quantitative analysis of 87 endogenous metabolites in plasma was conducted. This study is the first to perform targeted metabolomic profiling in patients with STEMI. We identified 36 significantly altered metabolites in STEMI patients. Increased levels of four amino acids, eight acylcarnitines, six metabolites of the NO-urea cycle and neurotransmitters, and three intermediates of tryptophan metabolism were detected. The following metabolites exhibited decreased levels: six amino acids, three acylcarnitines, three components of the NO-urea cycle and neurotransmitters, and three intermediates of tryptophan metabolism. We found that the significant changes in tryptophan metabolism observed in STEMI patients-the increase in anthranilic acid and tryptophol and decrease in xanthurenic acid and 3-OH-kynurenine-may play important roles in STEMI pathogenesis. On the basis of the differences in the constructed weighted correlation networks, new significant metabolite ratios were identified. Among the 22 significantly altered metabolite ratios identified, 13 were between STEMI patients and non-CVD patients, and 17 were between STEMI patients and SAP patients. Seven of these ratios were common to both comparisons (STEMI patients vs. non-CVD patients and STEMI patients vs. SAP patients). Additionally, two ratios were consistently observed among the STEMI, SAP and non-CVD groups (anthranilic acid: aspartic acid and GSG (glutamine: serine + glycine)). These findings provide new insight into the diagnosis and pathogenesis of STEMI.

The Effect of Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on japonica Rice Based on Volatile Metabolomics Analysis.

Nitrogen is critical for rice yield and quality, but its overuse can be detrimental to efficiency and the environment. To identify changes in the quality of rice in response to the reduced application of nitrogen fertilizer, we carried out a comprehensive metabolomics study of SuiJing 18 using volatile metabolomics methods. Our results showed that SuiJing 18 had a total of 358 volatile metabolites, mainly lipids (16.25%), terpenoids (15.41%), heterocyclic compounds (15.13%), and hydrocarbons (13.45%). SuiJing 18 underwent significant changes in response to the reduced application of nitrogen fertilizer. Key sweet volatile compounds such as 4-methyl-benzeneacetaldehyde, hexyl acetate, and 2-methylnaphthalene were present at significantly higher levels when nitrogen fertilizer was applied at a rate of 68 kg of pure nitrogen per hectare, and their flavor characteristics also differed significantly from the compounds resulting from the other two treatments. Focusing on 16 differential volatile metabolites, we further investigated their effects on flavor and quality, thus laying the foundation for a greater understanding of the biomarkers associated with changes in rice quality. This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying changes in rice quality after reduced nitrogen fertilizer application.

Effects of single fermentation of Lactobacillus sakei and compound fermentation with Staphylococcus carnosus on the metabolomics of beef sausages.

To illustrate the mechnism of the better flavor and color in combined fermented sausages than single fermentation with L. sakei, the growth behavior, pH, and metabolomics of L. sakei in single fermentation and in combination with S. carnosus at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h were studied, and the sensory evaluation of fermented beef sausage was conducted. Through KEGG topology analysis found that L. sakei is related to caffeine metabolism and citrate cycle, L. sakei and S. carnosus are related to metabolism of purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Compared with L. sakei fermentation alone, the compound fermentation with S. carnosus increased the content of asparagine. The content of the bitter substance tyrosine decreased during the compound fermentation. As starter cultures for the L. sakei applied to provide a basis for the fermented beef sausage.

Multi-omics profiling reveals the molecular mechanisms of H2O2-induced detrimental effects on Thamnaconus septentrionalis.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a novel water treatment agent, can be used for disinfection, water quality adjustment, and disease prevention, while excessive H2O2 can injure farm animals, even leading to death. Hydrogen peroxide is a recommended disinfectant and bactericide for treating gill diseases and vibriosis in the greenfin horse-faced filefish Thamnaconus septentrionalis. However, its cumulative effect, toxic molecular mechanism and relevant signal transduction/metabolic networks in marine fishes are largely unknown. RESULTS: We employed a multi-omics approach to investigate the detrimental effects of 50 mg/L H2O2 exposure (2 h/d) on filefish for 2 d, 4 d, and 6 d. Transcriptome sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly classified into functions such as signal transduction, nervous system, liver and bile acid metabolism, energy metabolism, cell adhesion and communication, inflammation and immune response. Metabolomic analysis found that the significantly changed metabolites (SCMs) were involved in phenylalanine metabolism, inflammatory mediator regulation, linoleic acid metabolism, and necroptosis. The main SCMs were cholic acid, carnitine C12:1, dimethylmalonic acid, glutamic acid, L-lactic acid, shikimic acid, 2-methylsuccinic acid, and others. Moreover, H2O2-induced oxidative stress also disturbs the balance of the gut microbiota, altering the microbial composition and affecting digestive processes. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated multiomics analysis revealed that H2O2-induced detrimental impacts include mucosal damage, inflammatory and immune responses, altered energy metabolism, and gut microbiota disorders. These findings offer novel insights into the harmful effects and signal transduction/metabolic pathways triggered by H2O2 exposure in marine fishes.

Hypoxanthine Produces Rapid Antidepressant Effects by Suppressing Inflammation in Serum and Hippocampus.

The occurrence and development of depression are closely related to disorders of the brain and peripheral substances. Abnormal metabolites in the blood affect the signal regulation function of the nerve center, which is one of the key factors for depression episodes. This study was focused on metabolites in serum and the mechanism of its antidepressant in the hippocampus. In the present study, serum metabolites in patients with depression were screened by metabolomic techniques. Various depressive mouse models and behavioral tests were used to assess its antidepressant effects. The expressions of inflammatory signaling were detected by using Western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. We found that the metabolite hypoxanthine in the serum of patients with depression was significantly reduced, and the same result was also found in two mouse models of depression such as chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and social defeat stress (SD). By administering different doses of hypoxanthine (5, 10, 15 mg/kg), we found that only 15 mg/kg was able to significantly reduce the latency and increase food consumption in the novelty suppressed-feeding test (NSF), which was also able to reverse the depressive phenotypes of mice in the CUMS model after a single administration at 2 h later. Hypoxanthine obviously reduced the expressions of inflammation in serum and downregulated the expressions of MAPK and NLRP3-related pathways in the hippocampus in CUMS mice. Moreover, hypoxanthine also suppressed the activations of glial cells including GFAP and IBA-1 in hippocampal CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG). To sum up, hypoxanthine exerted antidepressant effect relying on the inhibition of peripheral and hippocampal inflammations by regulating MAPK, NLRP3-related pathways, and glial cells. This was the first time that we have found a disordered metabolite in patients with depression and further systematically demonstrated its efficacy and potential mechanism of antidepressants, providing new ideas for antidepressant drug development.

Comparative Study on Growth and Metabolomic Profiles of Six Lactobacilli Strains by Sodium Selenite.

Selenium (Se) has garnered increasing attention in the field of nutrition, as it is essential for both humans and animals. Certain microorganisms can enrich inorganic selenium and convert it into organic selenium. The growth and metabolomic profiles of six lactobacilli strains exposed to 50 µg/mL of sodium selenite were performed using gas chromatography tandem time-off light mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) analysis. The addition of selenium significantly increased both the population and weight of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PS5, Lbs. rhamnosus RT-B, Limosilactobacillus reuteri 3630, and Lmb. reuteri 1663 strains, while those of the other two strains decreased. A total of 271 metabolites were determined, with their concentrations ranked from highest to lowest as follows: organic acids and derivatives, oxygen compounds, lipids and lipid-like molecules, and benzenoids. In certain groups, the concentrations of serine, aspartic acid, trehalose, palmitic acid, methylthreonine, and melibiose increased significantly, whereas glucuronic acid, ribose, ornithine, and methionine were downregulated. The metabolic pathways were significantly associated with ABC transporters, glycine, serine, threonine metabolism, and aminobenzoate degradation and other pathways. Based on these findings, we concluded that the transport, absorption, assimilation, and stress response to selenium by lactobacilli in metabolomic changed. Furthermore, the metabolomic alterations among different types of lactobacilli varied primarily due to their distinct properties.

Effects of 4.9 GHz Radiofrequency Field Exposure on Brain Metabolomic and Proteomic Characterization in Mice.

Electromagnetic exposure has become increasingly widespread, and its biological effects have received extensive attention. The purpose of this study was to explore changes in the metabolism profile of the brain and serum and to identify differentially expressed proteins in the brain after exposure to the 4.9 GHz radiofrequency (RF) field. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a Sham group and an RF group, which were sham-exposed and continuously exposed to a 4.9 RF field for 35 d, 1 h/d, at an average power density (PD) of 50 W/m2. After exposure, untargeted metabolomics and Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) quantitative proteomics were performed. We found 104 and 153 up- and down-regulated differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the RF_Brain group and RF_Serum group, and the DEMs were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism. Moreover, 10 up-regulated and 51 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were discovered in the RF group. Functional correlation analysis showed that most DEMs and DEPs showed a significant correlation. These results suggested that 4.9 GHz exposure induced disturbance of metabolism in the brain and serum, and caused deregulation of proteins in the brain.

Identifying Potential Natural Antibiotics from Unani Formulas through Machine Learning Approaches.

The Unani Tibb is a medical system of Greek descent that has undergone substantial dissemination since the 11th century and is currently prevalent in modern South and Central Asia, particularly in primary health care. The ingredients of Unani herbal medicines are primarily derived from plants. Our research aimed to address the pressing issues of antibiotic resistance, multi-drug resistance, and the emergence of superbugs by examining the molecular-level effects of Unani ingredients as potential new natural antibiotic candidates. We utilized a machine learning approach to tackle these challenges, employing decision trees, kernels, neural networks, and probability-based methods. We used 12 machine learning algorithms and several techniques for preprocessing data, such as Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), Feature Selection, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). To ensure that our model was optimal, we conducted grid-search tuning to tune all the hyperparameters of the machine learning models. The application of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) with SMOTE pre-processing techniques resulted in an impressive accuracy precision and recall values. This analysis identified 20 important metabolites as essential components of the formula, which we predicted as natural antibiotics. In the final stage of our investigation, we verified our prediction by conducting a literature search for journal validation or by analyzing the structural similarity with known antibiotics using asymmetric similarity.

Effects of exposure to trihalomethanes in swimming pool waters on metabolomics profile: a randomized parallel design trial.

Biological mechanisms of exposure to Trihalomethanes (THMs) in swimming pools remain unclear. Investigation of short-term changes in metabolomic profiles due to exposure to THMs during swimming can help to understand the health effects-related mechanisms. With this in view, we aimed to assess exposure of swimmers to THMs in chlorine and ozone-chlorine swimming pools using the metabolomics approach from September 2020 to January 2021 in Tehran. Two parallel panels of 29 healthy adult subjects swam over 60 min in either of swimming pools. Blood samples were collected before and 2 h after swimming to assess metabolomic profile using Hydrogen-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (H-NMR). Differential metabolites between the two groups were identified by multivariate analysis methods such as Orthogonal Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and Random Forest (RF). The levels of THMs in exhaled air as a biomarker of exposure and the metabolic profile as a biomarker of the effect changed significantly between two participants of swimming pools. Based on the significant metabolites, the biochemical pathways were identified by the method of Metabolite Setts Enrichment Analysis (MSEA) and by using the Metaboanalyst platform. The pathways of tryptophan metabolism, galactose metabolism and fructose and mannose metabolism were the most important biochemically significant pathways in individuals after exposure to THMs. Finally, findings from metabolic changes in our study indicate that exposure to THMs in swimming pools can activate the mechanisms of central nervous system disorders, increased uric acid, increased risk of bladder cancer and oxidative stress. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-024-00912-2.

Potential of plasma biomarkers for heart failure prediction, management, and prognosis: A multiomics perspective.

Heart failure (HF) remains a major global health challenge, and more effective and comprehensive plasma biomarkers are needed to effectively treat HF patients. Multiomics studies have shown that DNA fragments, noncoding RNAs, proteins, and metabolites may be potential plasma biomarkers for HF. However, comprehensive reviews that focus on research on plasma biomarkers for HF from an omics perspective are lacking. This review summarizes the applications of various omics approaches in the exploration of biomarkers related to the risk assessment, diagnosis, subtype classification, medical management, and prognosis prediction of HF. Moreover, as heart transplantation and left ventricular assistant device (LVAD) implantation are terminal therapies for end-stage HF patients, this review also discusses the role of cell-free DNA as a biomarker for cardiac transplant rejection and omics studies of plasma biomarkers in patients who respond to LVAD therapy. Our findings suggest that future omics research on HF biomarkers should employ integrated multiomics methods and expand the sample size to increase the robustness of the results and that the identified biomarkers should be further validated in large cohorts.

Integrating mineral elements and metabolite features to distinguish Lotus seeds from different geographic origins.

The characteristics of lotus seeds (LS) are influenced by variety and environment. However, it remains unknown the difference of metabolites and elements of LS from different origins. In this study, an accurate quantification method (97-107 %) for 20 mineral elements in LS was developed, and a metabolomic method was established to identify a total of 323 metabolites in LS. Mineral composition analysis revealed significant variations in the mineral element contents among LS samples from seven geographical regions. LS were rich in potassium (14,710 mg/kg), manganese (67.19 mg/kg), with a low level of sodium (210 mg/kg). A total of 10 mineral elements and 117 metabolites (p < 0.05 and VIP > 1) were identified as the potential geographical markers of LS by integration analysis. The linear discriminant analysis model showed high prediction accuracy. This study provides strong experimental evidence to maintain the authenticity and quality of LS in the food industry.

Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals mechanisms of selenium-regulated anthocyanin synthesis in waxy maize (Zea mays L.).

Anthocyanins in maize (Zea mays L.) kernels determine the plant's color and can enhance its resistance. Selenium (Se) significantly impacts plant growth, development, and secondary metabolic regulation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Se regulates anthocyanin synthesis in waxy corn remain unclear. This study employed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanisms through which selenium influences anthocyanin synthesis in yellow and purple waxy corn. The results showed that maize varieties with higher anthocyanin content had higher selenium enrichment capacity in their kernels. Under selenium stress, HN2025 exhibited 1,904 more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 140 more differential metabolites compared to HN5. The expression levels of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes and transcription factors such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, flavonoid 3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), chalcone synthase (CHS), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), anthocyanin 5,3-O-glucosyltransferases, and anthocyanidin reductase, MYB, and bHLH were strongly induced in HN2025. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant enrichment in anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, phenylalanine biosynthesis, and phenylalanine metabolism under selenium treatment. Three up-regulated PAL genes and one C4H gene were significantly enriched with DAMs in phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and anthocyanin biosynthesis, resulting in significant differences between HN5 and HN2025 in selenium-induced anthocyanin metabolism-related pathways. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the effects of selenium on the molecular regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in maize kernels.