Disordered Ferlin C2A-C2B Linkers Bind Membranes and Encode Small Linear Motifs.

Ferlins are vesicle trafficking proteins composed of folded C2 domains conjugated by linkers which are largely disordered. Although a role for the C2 domains as calcium sensors has been established it remains unclear whether the linkers function beyond acting as passive spacers. We examined the C2A-C2B linker sequences of vertebrate ferlins and found both putative short linear motifs (SLiMs) as well as membrane binding sequences for members of the protein family.

Reversing metabolic dysregulation in farnesoid X receptor knockout mice via gut microbiota modulation.

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR), expressed in the liver and in the small intestine, is a key regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Its pharmacological modulation is explored as a potential treatment for obesity-related metabolic impairments. To develop effective pharmacological interventions, it is crucial to differentiate the individual contributions of intestinal and hepatic FXR to lipid metabolism.

Microbiome dynamics associated with the infection of grey field slugs by the biocontrol nematode .

The facultative-parasitic nematode has been used for many years as a biological control agent targeting slug pests. During the nematode's infection process, the presence of certain bacteria has been suggested to affect the pathogenicity and efficiency of the nematodes in killing slugs, though the potential roles of different bacteria in affecting host-infection by nematodes remain unclear. In this study, we examined three experimental populations cultured with three different bacteria: 1) (EC), 2) a newly isolated sp.

Deconvoluting and Interpreting Nontargeted Chemical Data: A Data-Driven Forensic Workflow for Identifying the Most Prominent Chemical Sources in Receiving Waters.

Chemical forensics aims to identify major contamination sources, but existing workflows often rely on predefined targets and known sources, introducing bias. Here, we present a data-driven workflow that reduces this bias by applying an unsupervised machine learning technique. We applied both nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) on the same nontargeted chemical data set to compare their different interpretations of environmental sources.

Density-dependent network structuring within and across wild animal systems.

Theory predicts that high population density leads to more strongly connected spatial and social networks, but how local density drives individuals' positions within their networks is unclear. This gap reduces our ability to understand and predict density-dependent processes. Here we show that density drives greater network connectedness at the scale of individuals within wild animal populations.

Star Power: Early life stages of an endangered sea star are robust to current and near-future warming.

The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, was a top benthic predator throughout its former range from Alaska to northern Mexico, until its populations were devastated starting in 2013 by a disease known as seastar wasting. The subsequent absence of sunflower stars from northern California waters was coincident with a dramatic ecological phase shift from healthy bull kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana) to barrens formed by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), a prey of sunflower stars. Modeling suggests that restoration and resilience of kelp forests can be enhanced by the return of sunflower stars.

Antibacterial activity and mechanistic insights of gallium-based nanoparticles: an emerging frontier in metal-based antimicrobials.

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for novel therapeutic agents that act through non-conventional mechanisms. Gallium-based nanoparticles (GaNPs) represent a promising yet underexplored class of metal-based antimicrobials. Owing to their unique ability to mimic iron(iii), GaNPs disrupt key bacterial metabolic processes, particularly those dependent on iron acquisition and utilization.

Bycatch survival of shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery.

Severe population declines of shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Atlantic Ocean have led to the implementation of conservation measures, notably fishing retention bans and live-release regulations, aimed at substantially reducing fishing mortality to allow stock recovery. While retention bans can eliminate harvest mortality, their effectiveness can be reduced if survival of sharks encountered as bycatch and not retained is low. We quantified at-vessel survival (AVS) and post-release survival (PRS) and estimated overall bycatch survival probability of mako sharks for the U.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: 2025.

The realm includes viruses of archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes, with linear dsDNA genomes. Duplodnavirians share a distinct morphogenetic module of four hallmark genes encoding the HK97-fold major capsid protein, a genome packaging ATPase-nuclease (large terminase subunit), a portal protein and a capsid maturation protease. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the realm , which is available at ictv.

Manipulation of the Symbiodiniaceae microbiome confers multigenerational impacts on symbioses and reproductive ecology of its Exaiptasia diaphana host.

Symbiodiniaceae-associated microbiota strongly affect cnidarian symbioses. We systematically reduced the bacterial and fungal communities associated with Symbiodiniaceae to study effects on the cnidarian holobiont Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia). Clonal anemones were inoculated with xenic Breviolum minutum (SSB01) and microbiome manipulated cultures after antibacterial or antifungal treatment.

Post-exposure effects of Photorhabdus nematicidal secondary metabolites on the fitness of entomopathogenic nematodes.

Previous studies conducted by our team have shown that three secondary metabolites (SMs) from Photorhabdus luminescens sonorensis, trans-cinnamic acid (TCA), (4E)-5-phenyl-4-pentenoic acid (PPA), and indole, exhibit nematicidal and/or nematistatic activities against root knot and citrus nematodes, with no discernible effects on non-target entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). To further explore the post-exposure fitness of EPNs, this study focused on the effects of these SMs on the virulence and reproductive fitness of three EPNs: Heterorhabditis sonorensis (the native host of P. l.

Environmental factors have a greater influence on photosynthetic capacity in C plants than biochemical subtypes or growth forms.

Our understanding of how photosynthetic capacity varies among C species and across growth and measurement conditions remains limited. We collated 1696 CO response curves of net CO assimilation rate (A/C curves) from C species grown and measured at various environmental conditions and used these data to estimate the apparent maximum carboxylation activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (V) and CO-saturated net photosynthetic rate (A), two key parameters describing photosynthetic capacity. We examined how V and A vary with species-specific traits, growth and measurement conditions.

Endotoxemia-Induced Inflammation in the Absence of Obesity Is Associated With Decreased Anxiety-Like and Impulsive Behavior With no Effect on Learning and Memory.

Obesity is associated with increased gut permeability, which contributes to a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Obesity is also linked with altered neurocognitive functions, including impaired learning and memory. Whether these changes are secondary to neuroinflammation versus other comorbidities associated with obesity is unknown.

Human in vitro metabolism of an environmental mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) found at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants that pose health risks to humans. Toxicity testing approaches of PAHs have evolved from traditional rodent models to New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), such as high-throughput screening in zebrafish, enabling rapid evaluation of chemical hazards. However, translating toxicity findings from laboratory systems to humans remains difficult due to complexity and species-specific differences.

NDMA soft-sensors for potable reuse: A model development study.

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogen of significant concern in potable water treatment but real-time monitoring of NDMA is not yet feasible with current analytical techniques or mechanistic models. Measuring NDMA and its precursors is time- and labor-intensive which often results in conservative, energy-intensive NDMA treatment approaches, such as operating UV at the maximum dose, to remove NDMA under all possible conditions. To reduce the energy required for NDMA treatment, data-driven modeling was used to simulate an NDMA soft sensor for real-time UV dose control.

From Morphology to Multi-Omics: A New Age of Fusarium Research.

The genus includes some of the most economically and ecologically impactful fungal pathogens affecting global agriculture and human health. Over the past 15 years, rapid advances in molecular biology, genomics, and diagnostic technologies have reshaped our understanding of taxonomy, host-pathogen dynamics, mycotoxin biosynthesis, and disease management. This review synthesizes key developments in these areas, focusing on agriculturally important species complexes such as the species complex (FOSC), species complex (FGSC), and a discussion on emerging lineages such as .

Real-Time Integrative Mapping of the Phenology and Climatic Suitability for the Spotted Lanternfly, .

We present a model that integrates the mapping of the phenology and climatic suitability for the spotted lanternfly (SLF), (White, 1845) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), to provide guidance on when and where to conduct surveillance and management of this highly invasive pest. The model was designed for use in the Degree-Day, Establishment Risk, and Phenological Event Maps (DDRP) platform, which is an open-source decision support tool to help to detect, monitor, and manage invasive threats. We validated the model using presence records and phenological observations derived from monitoring studies and the iNaturalist database.

Pacific Cod metabolism and swimming performance are similar across temperatures following prolonged thermal acclimation.

Warming ocean temperatures can increase the metabolic rates of fishes, potentially contributing to changes in their growth and survival to recruitment age. During prolonged marine heatwave conditions in the Gulf of Alaska between 2014 and 2019, Pacific Cod ( metabolic rates may have increased, but little is known about the relationship between metabolism and temperature for immature individuals of this species. We examined the effect of prolonged temperature exposure (~1 year) on the performance (standard, routine, and maximum metabolic rates; critical swimming speed; and aerobic scope) and swimming efficiency (cost of transport and optimal swimming speed) of age-1 Pacific Cod during two laboratory experiments across a range of temperatures (Expt.

A unified model of transient poration induced by antimicrobial peptides.

Membrane active peptides (MAPs) represent a diverse group of agents that disrupt the integrity of lipid membranes. One class of MAPs, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), destroy bacteria by transiently porating the bacterial membrane causing leakage of cellular contents. Transient leakage is classified as "graded," where all vesicles in a population leak partially, or "all-or-none," where some vesicles leak completely.

Overall Evidence for Milk-Derived Proteins and Peptides in Blood after Digestion: A Systematic Review.

Context: Milk and dairy products are rich in protein components, including bioactive peptides and proteins that may play crucial roles in influencing human health. Despite extensive research on the nutritional profile and bioactive components of milk, there is no consensus on the presence or absence of milk-derived proteins or peptides in the blood post-consumption of milk or dairy products. Many studies have identified milk-derived proteins or peptides from blood, but there is no existing catalog of all the proteins and peptides found from the blood matrix.

Determining the hydrodynamic diameters of nanoplastics short-end capillary zone electrophoresis-Taylor dispersion analysis in tandem.

As plastics persist in the environment, they are broken down into smaller pieces through processes including UV degradation and mechanical forces. Current research focuses on developing analytical methods to characterize plastics <1 μm in diameter, known as nanoplastics, as their size is related to their toxicity. We present a novel short-end capillary zone electrophoresis-Taylor dispersion analysis (CZE-TDA) approach for determining the hydrodynamic diameters and size distributions of mixtures of nanoplastics with different surface chemistries.