Incorporation of compost and biochar enhances yield and medicinal compounds in seeds of water-stressed Trigonella foenum-graecum L. plants cultivated in saline calcareous soils.

BACKGROUND: The combination of compost and biochar (CB) plays an important role in soil restoration and mitigation strategies against drought stress in plants. In the current study, the impact of CB was determined on the characteristics of saline calcareous soil and the productivity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plants. The field trials examined CB rates (CB0, CB10 and CB20 corresponding to 0, 10, and 20 t ha‒1, respectively) under deficit irrigation [DI0%, DI20%, and DI40% receiving 100, 80, and 60% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), respectively] conditions on growth, seed yield (SY), quality, and water productivity (WP) of fenugreek grown in saline calcareous soils. RESULTS: In general, DI negatively affected the morpho-physio-biochemical responses in plants cultivated in saline calcareous soils. However, amendments of CB10 or CB20 improved soil structure under DI conditions. This was evidenced by the decreased pH, electrical conductivity of soil extract (ECe), and bulk density but increased organic matter, macronutrient (N, P, and K) availability, water retention, and total porosity; thus, maintaining better water and nutritional status. These soil modifications improved chlorophyll, tissue water contents, cell membrane stability, photosystem II photochemical efficiency, photosynthetic performance, and nutritional homeostasis of drought-stressed plants. This was also supported by increased osmolytes, non-enzymatic, and enzymatic activities under DI conditions. Regardless of DI regimes, SY was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved by 40.0 and 102.5% when plants were treated with CB10 and CB20, respectively, as similarly observed for seed alkaloids (87.0, and 39.1%), trigonelline content (43.8, and 16.7%) and WP (40.9, and 104.5%) over unamended control plants. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the application of organic amendments of CB can be a promising sustainable solution for improving saline calcareous soil properties, mitigating the negative effects of DI stress, and enhancing crop productivity in arid and semi-arid agro-climates.

The emerging roles of sphingosine 1-phosphate and SphK1 in cancer resistance: a promising therapeutic target.

Cancer chemoresistance is a problematic dilemma that significantly restrains numerous cancer management protocols. It can promote cancer recurrence, spreading of cancer, and finally, mortality. Accordingly, enhancing the responsiveness of cancer cells towards chemotherapies could be a vital approach to overcoming cancer chemoresistance. Tumour cells express a high level of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), which acts as a protooncogenic factor and is responsible for the synthesis of sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P). S1P is released through a Human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter to interact with other phosphosphingolipids components in the interstitial fluid in the tumor microenvironment (TME), provoking communication, progression, invasion, and tumor metastasis. Also, S1P is associated with several impacts, including anti-apoptotic behavior, metastasis, mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and chemotherapy resistance. Recent reports addressed high levels of S1P in several carcinomas, including ovarian, prostate, colorectal, breast, and HCC. Therefore, targeting the S1P/SphK signaling pathway is an emerging therapeutic approach to efficiently attenuate chemoresistance. In this review, we comprehensively discussed S1P functions, metabolism, transport, and signaling. Also, through a bioinformatic framework, we pointed out the alterations of SphK1 gene expression within different cancers with their impact on patient survival, and we demonstrated the protein-protein network of SphK1, elaborating its sparse roles. Furthermore, we made emphasis on different machineries of cancer resistance and the tight link with S1P. We evaluated all publicly available SphK1 inhibitors and their inhibition activity using molecular docking and how SphK1 inhibitors reduce the production of S1P and might reduce chemoresistance, an approach that might be vital in the course of cancer treatment and prognosis.

Molecular docking as a tool for the discovery of novel insight about the role of acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors in SARS- CoV-2 infectivity.

Recently, COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, caused > 6 million deaths. Symptoms included respiratory strain and complications, leading to severe pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 attaches to the ACE-2 receptor of the host cell membrane to enter. Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 entry may effectively inhibit infection. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is a lysosomal protein that catalyzes the conversion of sphingolipid (sphingomyelin) to ceramide. Ceramide molecules aggregate/assemble on the plasma membrane to form "platforms" that facilitate the viral intake into the cell. Impairing the ASMase activity will eventually disrupt viral entry into the cell. In this review, we identified the metabolism of sphingolipids, sphingolipids' role in cell signal transduction cascades, and viral infection mechanisms. Also, we outlined ASMase structure and underlying mechanisms inhibiting viral entry 40 with the aid of inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs). In silico molecular docking analyses of FIASMAs with inhibitors revealed that dilazep (S = - 12.58 kcal/mol), emetine (S = - 11.65 kcal/mol), pimozide (S = - 11.29 kcal/mol), carvedilol (S = - 11.28 kcal/mol), mebeverine (S = - 11.14 kcal/mol), cepharanthine (S = - 11.06 kcal/mol), hydroxyzin (S = - 10.96 kcal/mol), astemizole (S = - 10.81 kcal/mol), sertindole (S = - 10.55 kcal/mol), and bepridil (S = - 10.47 kcal/mol) have higher inhibition activity than the candidate drug amiodarone (S = - 10.43 kcal/mol), making them better options for inhibition.

Global soil nitrogen cycle pattern and nitrogen enrichment effects: Tropical versus subtropical forests.

Tropical and subtropical forest biomes are a main hotspot for the global nitrogen (N) cycle. Yet, our understanding of global soil N cycle patterns and drivers and their response to N deposition in these biomes remains elusive. By a meta-analysis of 2426-single and 161-paired observations from 89 published 15 N pool dilution and tracing studies, we found that gross N mineralization (GNM), immobilization of ammonium ( I NH 4 ) and nitrate ( I NO 3 ), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) were significantly higher in tropical forests than in subtropical forests. Soil N cycle was conservative in tropical forests with ratios of gross nitrification (GN) to I NH 4 (GN/ I NH 4 ) and of soil nitrate to ammonium (NO3 - /NH4 + ) less than one, but was leaky in subtropical forests with GN/ I NH 4 and NO3 - /NH4 + higher than one. Soil NH4 + dynamics were mainly controlled by soil substrate (e.g., total N), but climatic factors (e.g., precipitation and/or temperature) were more important in controlling soil NO3 - dynamics. Soil texture played a role, as GNM and I NH 4 were positively correlated with silt and clay contents, while I NO 3 and DNRA were positively correlated with sand and clay contents, respectively. The soil N cycle was more sensitive to N deposition in tropical forests than in subtropical forests. Nitrogen deposition leads to a leaky N cycle in tropical forests, as evidenced by the increase in GN/ I NH 4 , NO3 - /NH4 + , and nitrous oxide emissions and the decrease in I NO 3 and DNRA, mainly due to the decrease in soil microbial biomass and pH. Dominant tree species can also influence soil N cycle pattern, which has changed from conservative in deciduous forests to leaky in coniferous forests. We provide global evidence that tropical, but not subtropical, forests are characterized by soil N dynamics sustaining N availability and that N deposition inhibits soil N retention and stimulates N losses in these biomes.

Exogenously applied sodium nitroprusside alleviates nickel toxicity in maize by regulating antioxidant activities and defense-related gene expression.

Nickel (Ni) stress adversely affects plant growth and biomass accumulation, posturing severe menace to crop production and food security. The current study aimed to determine the putative role of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in mitigating Ni-induced phytotoxicity and identify the underlying defense mechanisms in maize, which are poorly understood. Our findings showed that SNP significantly augmented plant growth, biomass, and photosynthesis-related attributes (Fv/Fm, Fm, qP ETR, and ΦPSII) through diminishing Ni uptake and translocation in root and shoot tissues of maize under Ni stress conditions. In parallel, exogenous SNP substantially relieved maize seedlings from Ni-induced stress by enhancing enzymatic (SOD, CAT, and GPX) and non-enzymatic (phenol and flavonoids) antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H2 O2 ). The results revealed that SNP treatment increased the content of organic osmolyte glycine betaine and the activity of GST, concomitantly with ATP and ionic exchange capacity (including Ca2+ -ATPase and Mg2+ -ATPase), advocating its sufficiency to promote plant growth and avert Ni-induced stress in maize plants. The only exception was the production of organic acids (citric, oxalic, malic, and formic acids), which was reduced as SNP treatment relieved maize seedlings from Ni-induced oxidative damage. The application of SNP also displayed higher expression of defense- and detoxifying-related genes than in control treatments. Together, our data highlighted the mechanism involved in the amelioration of Ni toxicity by SNP; thus, suggesting a potential role of SNP in mitigating the adverse effects of Ni-contaminated soils to boost growth and yield of crop plants, that is, maize.

Isolation, Characterization, and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Bacteriophage Ec_MI-02 from Pigeon Feces Infecting Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The most significant serotype of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli that causes foodborne illnesses is Escherichia coli O157:H7. Elimination of E. coli O157:H7 during food processing and storage is a possible solution. Bacteriophages have a significant impact on bacterial populations in nature due to their ability to lyse their bacterial host. In the current study, a virulent bacteriophage, Ec_MI-02, was isolated from the feces of a wild pigeon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for potential future use as a bio-preservative or in phage therapy. Using a spot test and an efficiency of plating analysis, Ec_MI-02 was found to infect in addition to the propagation host, E. coli O157:H7 NCTC 12900, five different serotypes of E. coli O157:H7 (three clinical samples from infected patients, one from contaminated green salad, and one from contaminated ground beef). Based on morphology and genome analysis, Ec_MI-02 belongs to the genus Tequatrovirus under the order Caudovirales. The adsorption rate constant (K) of Ec_MI-02 was found to be 1.55 × 10-8 mL/min. The latent period was 50 min with a burst size of almost 10 plaque forming units (pfu)/host cell in the one-step growth curve when the phage Ec_MI-02 was cultivated using the propagation host E. coli O157:H7 NCTC 12900. Ec_MI-02 was found to be stable at a wide range of pH, temperature, and commonly used laboratory disinfectants. Its genome is 165,454 bp long with a GC content of 35.5% and encodes 266 protein coding genes. Ec_MI-02 has genes encoding for rI, rII, and rIII lysis inhibition proteins, which supports the observation of delayed lysis in the one-step growth curve. The current study provides additional evidence that wild birds could also be a good natural reservoir for bacteriophages that do not carry antibiotic resistance genes and could be good candidates for phage therapy. In addition, studying the genetic makeup of bacteriophages that infect human pathogens is crucial for ensuring their safe usage in the food industry.

Spirulina platensis extract improves the production and defenses of the common bean grown in a heavy metals-contaminated saline soil.

Plants have to cope with several abiotic stresses, including salinity and heavy metals (HMs). Under these stresses, several extracts have been used as effective natural biostimulants, however, the use of Spirulina platensis (SP) extract (SPE) remains elusive. The effects of SPE were evaluated as soil addition (SA) and/or foliar spraying (FS) on antioxidant defenses and HMs content of common bean grown in saline soil contaminated with HMs. Individual (40 or 80 mg SPE/hill added as SA or 20 or 40 mg SPE/plant added as FS) or integrative (SA+FS) applications of SPE showed significant improvements in the following order: SA-80+FS-40 > SA-80+FS-20 > SA-40+FS-40 > SA-40+FS-20 > SA-80 > SA-40 > FS-40 > FS-20 > control. Therefore, the integrative SA+FS with 40 mg SP/plant was the most effective treatment in increasing plant growth and production, overcoming stress effects and minimizing contamination of the edible part. It significantly increased plant growth (74%-185%) and yield (107%-227%) by enhancing net photosynthetic rate (78.5%), stomatal conductance (104%), transpiration rate (124%), and contents of carotenoids (60.0%), chlorophylls (49%-51%), and NPK (271%-366%). These results were concurrent with the marked reductions in malondialdehyde (61.6%), hydrogen peroxide (42.2%), nickel (91%-94%), lead (80%-9%), and cadmium (74%-91%) contents due to the improved contents of glutathione (87.1%), ascorbate (37.0%), and α-tocopherol (77.2%), and the activities of catalase (18.1%), ascorbate peroxidase (18.3%), superoxide dismutase (192%), and glutathione reductase (52.2%) as reinforcing mechanisms. Therefore, this most effective treatment is recommended to mitigate the stress effects of salinity and HMs on common bean production while minimizing HMs in the edible part.

Heat stress in poultry with particular reference to the role of probiotics in its amelioration: An updated review.

Global climate change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and the consequences of global warming are expected to worsen. Many heat waves have recently hit various parts of the world, causing major losses in livestock, particularly in the poultry sector, resulting in massive mortalities and catastrophic economic losses. Therefore, the current review sheds light on the effects of heat stress on the poultry industry, and discusses the factors relevant to these harmful effects on behavior, bone development, blood chemistry and physiological changes, pathogenesis, and immune responses. Potential methods to ameliorate the heat stress response in birds, with particular reference to the role of probiotics in controlling such problems, is further discussed.

Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Phage UAE_MI-01 Isolated from Birds.

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is responsible for the majority of foodborne outbreaks worldwide and may lead to death. Bacteriophages are natural killers of bacteria. All previously reported E. coli O157:H7 phages were isolated from ruminants or swine. Here, we report for the first time a phage isolated from bird feces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), designated as UAE_MI-01, indicating birds as a good source of phages. Thus, phages could be a tool for predicting the presence of the host bacteria in an animal or the environment. UAE_MI-01 was found to be a lytic phage that was stable at wide ranges of pH, temperature, and chemical disinfectants, and with a burst size of almost 100 plaque-forming units per host cell after a latent period of 20 min and an adsorption rate constant (K) of 1.25 × 10-7 mL min-1. The phage genome was found to be 44,281 bp long with an average GC content of 54.7%. The presence of the phage indicates the presence of the host cell E. coli O157:H7 in wild birds. Therefore, other birds, mainly poultry, could be also investigated for the presence of this pathogenic bacterium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophage isolated from a bird.

Upgrading Common Wheat Pasta by Fiber-Rich Fraction of Potato Peel Byproduct at Different Particle Sizes: Effects on Physicochemical, Thermal, and Sensory Properties.

Fiber-enriched food has numerous health benefits. This study develops functional fiber-enriched pasta (FEP) by partially substituting wheat flour for alcohol-insoluble residue prepared from potato processing byproducts (AIR-PPB) at various particle sizes (PS). The independent variables' effects, AIR-PPB at 2-15% substitution levels, and PS 40-250 µm were investigated in terms of chemical, cooking, thermal, and sensory properties. AIR-PPB is rich in total dietary fibers (TDF) (83%), exhibiting high water-holding capacity (WHC) and vibrant colors. Different concentrations of AIR-PPB increase TDF content in FEPs by 7-21 times compared to the control pasta (CP). Although the optimal cooking time (OCT) decreases by 15-18% compared to CP, where a lower OCT should reduce cooking time and save energy, cooking loss (Cl) increases slightly but remains within an acceptable range of 8%. Additionally, AIR-PPB altered the texture properties of FEP, with a moderate decrease in mass increase index (MII), firmness, and stickiness. AIR-PPB impairs the gluten network's structure in pasta due to AIR-PPB's WHC, which competes with starch for water binding, increasing the starch gelatinization temperature. FEPs show an increased lightness and yellowness and improved sensory properties. Highly acceptable FEPs were obtained for the following substitution levels: FEP11 (AIR-PPB at 2% and PS of 145 µm), FEP9 (AIR-PPB 4% level with PS of 70 µm), FEP6 (AIR-PPB of 4% level with 219 µm PS), and FEP1 (AIR-PPB = 8.5% with 40 µm PS), as compared to other FEPs.

Mitigate nitrate contamination in potato tubers and increase nitrogen recovery by combining dicyandiamide, moringa oil and zeolite with nitrogen fertilizer.

Potato is considered a nitrogen (N) intensive plant with a low N use efficiency (NUE). The current study introduced an excellent approach by combining dicyandiamide (DCD), moringa seed oil (MSO), or zeolite (ZE), with N fertilizer for maximizing potato tuber yields and NUE as well as minimizing tubers nitrate (NO3-) accumulation. The impact of these materials on soil N availability and gaseous emissions (NH3, and N2O) was investigated under incubation conditions. A 2-year field experiment were carried out with seven treatments [without N (control), N fertilizer (350 kg N-urea ha-1 as a recommended dose; UreaRD), 75% of N recommended dose with DCD (Urea75%RD+DCD), Urea75%RD with 2% MSO (Urea75%RD+MSO2%), Urea75%RD with 4% MSO (Urea75%RD+MSO4%), Urea75%RD with 0.5 Mg ZE ha-1 (Urea75%RD+ZER1), and Urea75%RD with 1.0 Mg ZE ha-1 (Urea 75%RD+ZER2)]. We also conducted a 40-days incubation trial with the same treatments; however, urea was added at the rate of 200 mg N kg-1 soil for all treatments, excluding the control. The addition of DCD, MSO, and ZE with urea under incubation conditions delayed the nitrification process, thereby causing a rise in NH4+-N content and a decrease in NO3--N content. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was inhibited (p ≤ 0.01) in treatments Urea+DCD, Urea+MSO4%, and Urea+ZER2. The highest NUE indexes were recorded in treatment Urea75%RD+DCD. The highest NO3- accumulation (567 mg NO3- kg-1) in potato tubers was recorded in treatment UreaRD. Whilest, the lowest NO3- content (81 mg NO3- kg-1) was in treatment Urea75%RD+DCD. The lowest cumulative N2O emissions and highest cumulative NH3 volatilization were observed in the treatment Urea+DCD under incubation conditions. Our findings demonstrated that N fertilizer rate could be reduced by 25%, while the tuber yields increased with an acceptable limit of NO3- content, resulting in economical, agronomical, and environmental benefits.

Curcumin, the active substance of turmeric: its effects on health and ways to improve its bioavailability.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a spice utilized widely in India, China, and Southeast Asia as an aromatic stimulant, a food preservative, and coloring material. The commonly used names of turmeric are castor saffron, turmeric, and saffron root. Turmeric is a yellow-orange polyphenolic natural substance derived from C. longa rhizomes. It has been used to treat common inflammatory diseases, tumors, biliary diseases, anorexia, cough, topical wounds, diabetic injuries, liver disorders, rheumatism, and sinusitis. Extensive studies on the biological properties and pharmacological consequences of turmeric extracts have been conducted in recent years. Curcumin, the primary yellow biocomponent of turmeric, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiviral, antifibrotic, immunomodulatory, and antifungal properties. Defense assessment tests showed that curcumin is tolerated well at high doses, without adverse effects. Thus, curcumin is a highly active biological material with the potential to treat different diseases in modern medicine. This review article focuses on curcumin's biological characteristics. The most popular methods for curcumin encapsulation are also discussed. Several effective techniques and approaches have been proposed for curcuminoid capsulation, including nanocomplexing, gelation, complex coacervation, electrospraying, and solvent-free pH-driven encapsulation. This review also highlights curcumin's chemical properties, allowing the readers to expand their perspectives on its use in the development of functional products with health-promoting properties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular Characterization and Disease Control of Stem Canker on Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) Caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in the United Arab Emirates.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), royal poinciana (Delonix regia) trees suffer from stem canker disease. Symptoms of stem canker can be characterized by branch and leaf dryness, bark lesions, discoloration of xylem tissues, longitudinal wood necrosis and extensive gumming. General dieback signs were also observed leading to complete defoliation of leaves and ultimately death of trees in advanced stages. The fungus, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum DSM 109897, was consistently recovered from diseased royal poinciana tissues; this was confirmed by the molecular, structural and morphological studies. Phylogenetic analyses of the translation elongation factor 1-a (TEF1-α) of N. dimidiatum from the UAE with reference specimens of Botryosphaeriaceae family validated the identity of the pathogen. To manage the disease, the chemical fungicides, Protifert®, Cidely® Top and Amistrar® Top, significantly inhibited mycelial growth and reduced conidial numbers of N. dimidiatum in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The described "apple bioassay" is an innovative approach that can be useful when performing fungicide treatment studies. Under field conditions, Cidely® Top proved to be the most effective fungicide against N. dimidiatum among all tested treatments. Our data suggest that the causal agent of stem canker disease on royal poinciana in the UAE is N. dimidiatum.

Updates on understanding of probiotic lactic acid bacteria responses to environmental stresses and highlights on proteomic analyses.

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that improve the health of the host when administered in adequate quantities. Nonetheless, probiotics encounter extreme environmental conditions during food processing or along the gastrointestinal tract. This review discusses different environmental stresses that affect probiotics during food preparation, storage, and along the alimentary canal, including high temperature, low temperature, low and alkaline pH, oxidative stress, high hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, and starvation. The understanding of how probiotics deal with environmental stress and thrive provides useful information to guide the selection of the strains with enhanced performance in specific situations, in food processing or during gastrointestinal transit. In most cases, multiple biological functions are affected upon exposure of the cell to environmental stress. Sensing of sublethal environmental stress can allow for adaptation processes to occur, which can include alterations in the expression of specific proteins.

Molecular Identification and Disease Management of Date Palm Sudden Decline Syndrome in the United Arab Emirates.

Date palm orchards suffer from serious diseases, including sudden decline syndrome (SDS). External symptoms were characterized by whitening on one side of the rachis, progressing from the base to the apex of the leaf until the whole leaf dies; while the internal disease symptoms included reddish roots and highly colored vascular bundles causing wilting and death of the tree. Although three Fusarium spp. (F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. solani) were isolated from diseased root samples, the fungal pathogen F. solani was associated with SDS on date palm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fusarium spp. were identified based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. The internal transcribed spacer regions and large subunit of the ribosomal RNA (ITS/LSU rRNA) gene complex of the pathogens was further sequenced. Pathogenicity assays and disease severity indices confirm the main causal agent of SDS on date palm in the UAE is F. solani. Application of Cidely® Top (difenoconazole and cyflufenamid) significantly inhibited the fungal mycelial growth in vitro and reduced SDS development on date palm seedlings pre-inoculated with F. solani under greenhouse conditions. This is the first report confirming that the chemical fungicide Cidely® Top is strongly effective against SDS on date palm.

Enhancement of mangrove growth performance using fish emulsion and halotolerant plant growth-promoting actinobacteria for sustainable management in the UAE.

The combination of fish emulsion (FE) and the actinobacterial isolate, Streptomyces griseorubens UAE1 (Sg) capable of producing plant growth regulators (PGRs) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, was evaluated on mangrove (Avicennia marina) in the United Arab Emirates. Under greenhouse and field conditions, sediments amended with the biostimulant FE effectively enhanced mangrove growth compared to those inoculated with Sg only. Plant growth promotion by Sg was more pronounced in the presence of FE (+FE/+Sg) than in individual applications. Our data showed that Sg appeared to use FE as a source of nutrients and precursors for plant growth promotion. Thus, in planta PGR levels following the combined +FE/+Sg were significantly induced. This is the first report in the field of marine agriculture that uses FE as a nutrient base for soil microorganisms to promote mangrove growth. This study will support mangrove restoration along the Arabian Gulf coastline as a nature-based solution to changing climate and economic activities.

A high-quality genome assembly and annotation of Thielaviopsis punctulata DSM102798.

Black scorch disease (BSD), caused by the fungal pathogen Thielaviopsis punctulata (Tp) DSM102798, poses a significant threat to date palm cultivation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this study, Chicago and Hi-C libraries were prepared as input for the Dovetail HiRise pipeline to scaffold the genome of Tp DSM102798. We generated an assembly with a total length of 28.23 Mb comprising 1,256 scaffolds, and the assembly had a contig N50 of 18.56 kb, L50 of three, and a BUSCO completeness score of 98.6% for 758 orthologous genes. Annotation of this assembly produced 7,169 genes and 3,501 Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Compared to five other Thielaviopsis genomes, Tp DSM102798 exhibited the highest continuity with a cumulative size of 27.598 Mb for the first seven scaffolds, surpassing the assemblies of all examined strains. These findings offer a foundation for targeted strategies that enhance date palm resistance against BSD, and foster more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Revealing the association between vitamin D metabolic pathway gene variants and lung cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lung cancer is a crucial global issue, with more than one million deaths annually. While smoking is considered the main etiology of the disease, several genetic variants are associated with it. Alterations in vitamin D pathway genes have also been studied in regards to lung cancer, but the findings have been inconclusive. We here present a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven genes in this pathway: CYP2R1, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, GC, and VDR. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (WOS) databases) were searched. From these, 16 eligible case-control studies comprising 6,206 lung cancer cases and 7,272 health controls were obtained. These studies were subjected to comprehensive data extraction and quality scoring, and the pooled odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to estimate the effect of each variant along with heterogeneity analysis and a risk of bias assessment. Our meta-analysis revealed an association between CYP3A4 (rs2740574) and lung cancer in the allelic, heterozygous, and dominant models. In addition, both VDR (Fok1: rs2228570) and VDR (Cdx-2: rs11568820) displayed a protective role in lung cancer development in the heterozygous and dominant models. Furthermore, VDR (Taq1: rs731236) showed a decreased risk of lung cancer in the allelic, homozygous, and recessive models. Similarly, VDR (BsmI: rs1544410) had a positive effect on lung cancer risk when subjected to allelic and recessive models. Our meta-analysis revealed the lack of association of CYP2R1 (rs10741657), CYP27B1 (rs3782130), CYP27B1 (rs10877012), CYP24A1 (rs6068816), CYP24A1 (rs4809960), CYP3A5 (rs776746), GC (rs7041), GC (rs4588), and VDR (ApaI: rs7975232) with lung cancer. Our work revealed that CYP3A4 (rs2740574) can represent an independent risk factor for lung cancer. This conclusion can aid better personalized medicine for lung cancer management, while further assessment for genetic variants of CYP3A4, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, GC, and VDR is still required to address more robust evidence.

Dietary supplementation with a mixture of Dunaliella salina and Spirulina enhances broiler performance by improving growth, immunity, digestive enzymes and gut microbiota.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Dunaliella salina and Spirulina (D + S) mixture on performance, carcass yield, kidney and liver markers, lipid profile, and immune responses of fattening chicks. Two hundred broiler chicks at 7 days old were distributed into 5 experimental groups, 5 replicates each with 8 chicks each. Group 1 was fed on only basal diet; group 2 was fed with basal diet and 0.50 g/kg (D + S); group 3 was fed with basal diet and 1.00 g/kg (D + S); group 4 was fed with basal diet and 1.50 g/kg (D + S); and group 5 was fed with basal diet supplemented with 2.00 g/kg (D + S). The additive mixture (D + S) consisted of (1 D. salina: 1 Spirulina). The experiment lasted for 6 wk. The results demonstrated significantly improved better live body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (P<0.01) for groups that received (D + S) at levels of 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg diet compared to other groups at 6 wk of age. There was no significant influence of different levels of dietary feed additives on feed intake or carcass traits. The lipid profile was improved through a reduction of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) values, as well as the immune response, which was improved through increasing values of complement 3, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the birds treated with (D + S) compared to the control group. The inclusion of all levels of (D + S)/kg decreased triglyceride, while total protein, albumen, and globulin values (P<0.05 or P<0.01) were higher compared to other groups. The inclusion of the different levels of (D + S)/kg improved liver function, whereas aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were lower than in other groups (P<0.001). The lowest values of creatinine, urea, and uric acid were noted in birds fed a diet supplemented with 1.50 g (D + S)/kg. Antioxidant levels were improved through increasing values of catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) enzymes in the treated birds with (D + S) compared with the control chicks. Furthermore, digestive enzymes and microbial content were improved in broiler checks fed on diet supplemented with (D + S) compared to the control group. In conclusion, supplementing broiler chicks with a dietary D. salina and Spirulina combination increased their productive performance, immunity, kidney and liver function, lipid profile, and digestive enzymes.

Plants' molecular behavior to heavy metals: from criticality to toxicity.

The contamination of soil and water with high levels of heavy metals (HMs) has emerged as a significant obstacle to agricultural productivity and overall crop quality. Certain HMs, although serving as essential micronutrients, are required in smaller quantities for plant growth. However, when present in higher concentrations, they become very toxic. Several studies have shown that to balance out the harmful effects of HMs, complex systems are needed at the molecular, physiological, biochemical, cellular, tissue, and whole plant levels. This could lead to more crops being grown. Our review focused on HMs' resources, occurrences, and agricultural implications. This review will also look at how plants react to HMs and how they affect seed performance as well as the benefits that HMs provide for plants. Furthermore, the review examines HMs' transport genes in plants and their molecular, biochemical, and metabolic responses to HMs. We have also examined the obstacles and potential for HMs in plants and their management strategies.