Unveiling Fungi Armor: Preliminary Study on Fortifying Pisum sativum L. Seeds against Drought with Schizophyllum commune Fries 1815 Polysaccharide Fractions.

Amidst worsening climate change, drought stress imperils global agriculture, jeopardizing crop yields and food security, thereby necessitating the urgent exploration of sustainable methods like biopriming for the harnessing of beneficial microorganisms to bolster plant resilience. Recent research has revealed diverse biological compounds with versatile applications produced by Schizophyllum commune, rendering this fungus as a promising contender for biopriming applications. For the first time, this study aimed to investigate the potential of S. commune exo- (EPSH) and intra-polysaccharides (IPSH) isolated from two strains-Italian (ITA) and Serbian (SRB)-under submerged cultivation to enhance the resilience of Pisum sativum L. seeds through the biopriming technique. Testing of the seed quality for the bioprimed, hydroprimed, and unprimed seeds was conducted using a germination test, under optimal and drought conditions, while characterization of the PSHs included FTIR analysis, microanalysis, and determination of total protein content (TPC). The FTIR spectra of EPSH and IPSH were very similar but revealed the impurities, while microanalysis and TPC confirmed a different presence of proteins in the isolated PSHs. In optimal conditions, the IPSH SRB increased germination energy by 5.50% compared to the control; however, the highest percentage of germination (94.70%) was shown after biopriming with the PSH isolated from the ITA strain. Additionally, all assessed treatments resulted in a boost in seedling growth and biomass accumulation, where the ITA strain demonstrated greater effectiveness in optimal conditions, while the SRB strain showed superiority in drought conditions. The drought tolerance indices increased significantly in response to all examined treatments during the drought, with EPSH ITA (23.00%) and EPSH SRB (24.00%) demonstrating the greatest effects. Results of this preliminary study demonstrate the positive effect of isolated PSH, indicating their potential as biopriming agents and offering insights into novel strategies for agricultural resilience.

Comprehensive network of stress-induced responses in Zymomonas mobilis during bioethanol production: from physiological and molecular responses to the effects of system metabolic engineering.

Nowadays, biofuels, especially bioethanol, are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to fossil fuels. Zymomonas mobilis is a desirable species for bioethanol production due to its unique characteristics, such as low biomass production and high-rate glucose metabolism. However, several factors can interfere with the fermentation process and hinder microbial activity, including lignocellulosic hydrolysate inhibitors, high temperatures, an osmotic environment, and high ethanol concentration. Overcoming these limitations is critical for effective bioethanol production. In this review, the stress response mechanisms of Z. mobilis are discussed in comparison to other ethanol-producing microbes. The mechanism of stress response is divided into physiological (changes in growth, metabolism, intracellular components, and cell membrane structures) and molecular (up and down-regulation of specific genes and elements of the regulatory system and their role in expression of specific proteins and control of metabolic fluxes) changes. Systemic metabolic engineering approaches, such as gene manipulation, overexpression, and silencing, are successful methods for building new metabolic pathways. Therefore, this review discusses systems metabolic engineering in conjunction with systems biology and synthetic biology as an important method for developing new strains with an effective response mechanism to fermentation stresses during bioethanol production. Overall, understanding the stress response mechanisms of Z. mobilis can lead to more efficient and effective bioethanol production.

Isolation and Characterization of Plant-Growth-Promoting, Drought-Tolerant Rhizobacteria for Improved Maize Productivity.

Drought is one of the main abiotic factors affecting global agricultural productivity. However, the application of bioinocula containing plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been seen as a potential environmentally friendly technology for increasing plants' resistance to water stress. In this study, rhizobacteria strains were isolated from maize (Zea mays L.) and subjected to drought tolerance tests at varying concentrations using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8000 and screened for plant-growth-promoting activities. From this study, 11 bacterial isolates were characterized and identified molecularly, which include Bacillus licheniformis A5-1, Aeromonas caviae A1-2, A. veronii C7_8, B. cereus B8-3, P. endophytica A10-11, B. halotolerans A9-10, B. licheniformis B9-5, B. simplex B15-6, Priestia flexa B12-4, Priestia flexa C6-7, and Priestia aryabhattai C1-9. All isolates were positive for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, ammonia production, nitrogen fixation, and phosphate solubilization, but negative for hydrogen cyanide production. Aeromonas strains A1-2 and C7_8, showing the highest drought tolerance of 0.71 and 0.77, respectively, were selected for bioinoculation, singularly and combined. An increase in the above- and below-ground biomass of the maize plants at 100, 50, and 25% water-holding capacity (WHC) was recorded. Bacterial inoculants, which showed an increase in the aerial biomass of plants subjected to moderate water deficiency by up to 89%, suggested that they can be suitable candidates to enhance drought tolerance and nutrient acquisition and mitigate the impacts of water stress on plants.

MmpL3, Wag31 and PlrA are involved in coordinating polar growth with peptidoglycan metabolism and nutrient availability.

Cell growth in mycobacteria involves cell wall expansion that is restricted to the cell poles. The DivIVA homolog Wag31 is required for this process, but the molecular mechanism and protein partners of Wag31 have not been described. In this study of Mycobacterium smegmatis, we identify a connection between wag31 and trehalose monomycolate (TMM) transporter mmpl3 in a suppressor screen, and show that Wag31 and polar regulator PlrA are required for MmpL3's polar localization. In addition, the localization of PlrA and MmpL3 are responsive to nutrient and energy deprivation and inhibition of peptidoglycan metabolism. We show that inhibition of MmpL3 causes delocalized cell wall metabolism, but does not delocalize MmpL3 itself. We found that cells with an MmpL3 C-terminal truncation, which is defective for localization, have only minor defects in polar growth, but are impaired in their ability to downregulate cell wall metabolism under stress. Our work suggests that, in addition to its established function in TMM transport, MmpL3 has a second function in regulating global cell wall metabolism in response to stress. Our data are consistent with a model in which the presence of TMMs in the periplasm stimulates polar elongation, and in which the connection between Wag31, PlrA and the C-terminus of MmpL3 is involved in detecting and responding to stress in order to coordinate synthesis of the different layers of the mycobacterial cell wall in changing conditions.

Identifying physiological indicators of the cognitive, thermal, and combined (cognitive-thermal) stress conditions.

Physiologically based stress detection systems have proven to be effective in identifying different stress conditions in the body to determine the source of stress and be able to counteract it. However, some stress conditions have not been widely studied, including thermal stress, cognitive stress, and combined (thermal-cognitive) stress conditions, which are frequently encountered in work or school environments. In order to develop systems to detect and differentiate these conditions, it is necessary to identify the physiological indicators that characterize each of them. The present research aims to identify which physiological indicators (heart rate, respiratory rate, galvanic skin response, and local temperature) could differentiate different stress conditions (no-stress, cognitive stress, thermal stress, and combined (thermal-cognitive) stress conditions). Thirty participants were exposed to cognitive, thermal, and combined stress sources while recording their physiological signals. The findings indicate that both mean heart rate and mean galvanic skin response identify moderate thermal and cognitive stress conditions as distinct from a no-stress condition, yet they do not differentiate between the two stress conditions. Additionally, heart rate uniquely identifies the cognitive-thermal stress condition, effectively distinguishing this combined stress condition from the singular stress conditions and the no-stress condition. Mean local temperature specifically signals thermal stress conditions, whereas mean respiratory rate accurately identifies cognitive stress conditions, with both indicators effectively separating these conditions from each other and from the no-stress condition. This is the first basis for differentiating thermal and cognitive stress conditions through physiological indicators.

Advance of tolerance engineering on microbes for industrial production.

Industrial microbes have become the core of biological manufacturing, which utilized as the cell factory for production of plenty of chemicals, fuels and medicine. However, the challenge that the extreme stress conditions exist in production is unavoidable for cell factory. Consequently, to enhance robustness of the chassis cell lays the foundation for development of bio-manufacturing. Currently, the researches on cell tolerance covered various aspects, involving reshaping regulatory network, cell membrane modification and other stress response. In fact, the strategies employed to improve cell robustness could be summarized into two directions, irrational engineering and rational engineering. In this review, the metabolic engineering technologies on enhancement of microbe tolerance to industrial conditions are summarized. Meanwhile, the novel thoughts emerged with the development of biological instruments and synthetic biology are discussed.

Supplementation with l-arginine and nitrates vs age and individual physiological reactivity.

Ageing is a natural ontogenetic phenomenon that entails a decrease in the adaptive capacity of the organism, as a result of which the body becomes less adaptable to stressful conditions. Nitrate and nitrite enter the body from exogenous sources and from nitrification of ammonia nitrogen by intestinal microorganisms. This review considers the mechanisms of action of l-arginine, a known inducer of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, and nitrates as supplements in the processes of ageing and aggravated stress states, in which mechanisms of individual physiological reactivity play an important role. This approach can be used as an element of individual therapy or prevention of premature ageing processes depending on the different levels of initial reactivity of the functional systems. A search was performed of the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases (n = 181 articles) and the author's own research (n = 4) up to May 5, 2023. The review presents analyses of data on targeted treatment of NO generation by supplementation with l-arginine or nitrates, which is a promising means for prevention of hypoxic conditions frequently accompanying pathological processes in an ageing organism. The review clarifies the role of the individual state of physiological reactivity, using the example of individuals with a high predominance of cholinergic regulatory mechanisms who already have a significant reserve of adaptive capacity. In studies of the predominance of adrenergic influences, a poorly trained organism as well as an elderly organism correspond to low resistance, which is an additional factor of damage at increased energy expenditure. Conclusion: It is suggested that the role of NO synthesis from supplementation of dietary nitrates and nitrites increases with age rather than from oxygen-dependent biosynthetic reactions from l-arginine supplementation.

Phytochemical composition, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial responses of Lavandula dentata L. grown under different levels of heavy metals stress condition.

In order to know if the heavy metals stress condition is boon or bane for the plants growth, Lavandula dentata species was planted in pots under different levels of heavy metals stress condition and the phytochemical composition, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial responses of their leaf ethanolic extracts toward this stress condition were investigated compared to the control samples. Our findings showed significant differences in heavy metals bioaccumulation, photosynthetic pigments and total phenolic/flavonoids contents among L. dentata leafs ethanolic extracts, grown under different levels of heavy metals stress condition. The L. dentata leafs extracts, grown under Zn and Cu stress condition, showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than those grown under Cd and Pb stress condition. Comparatively, the L. dentata leafs extracts, grown under Zn stress condition, showed higher antioxidant activity, and those, grown under Cu stress condition, showed higher antimicrobial activity. The highest cytotoxicity was showed by L. dentata leaf extracts, grown under Cd and Pb stress condition, which lead to conclude that these extracts could be served as a novel scaffold in search for new drugs against cancer. In conclusion, the highlighted variability reflects the high impact of heavy metals stress condition on phytochemical composition and consequently on the biological activities of medicinal plants. Such impact led to conclude that we should select medicinal plants extracts to be investigated carefully depending on this stress condition, in order to isolate the bioactive components or to have the best quality of extracts in terms of biological activities.

Differential expression and cross-correlation between global regulator and pho regulon genes involved in decision-making under phosphate stress.

The differential gene expression under phosphate stress conditions leads to cross-talk between the global regulator, pho regulon, and metabolic genes. Promoter activity analysis of the selected 23 genes reveals the dynamic nature of real-time gene expression under different phosphate conditions. The expression profiles of the global regulator (rpoD, soxR, soxS, arcB, and fur), pho regulon (phoH, phoR, phoB, and ugpB), and metabolic genes (sdh, pfkA, ldh) varied significantly on phosphate level variation. Under stress conditions, soxR switches expression partners and co-expresses with rpoS instead of soxS. The partner-switching behavior of the genes under a challenging environment represents the intelligence of functional execution and ensures cell survival. The dynamic expression profile of the selected genes applies a time-lagged correlation to provide insight into the differential gene interaction between time-shifted expression profiles. Under different phosphate conditions, the minimum spanning tree graph revealed a different clustering pattern of selected genes depending on the computed distance and its proximity to other promoters.

Taxonomically Restricted Genes Are Associated With Responses to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.).

Orphan genes (OGs) are protein-coding genes that are restricted to particular clades or species and lack homology with genes from other organisms, making their biological functions difficult to predict. OGs can rapidly originate and become functional; consequently, they may support rapid adaptation to environmental changes. Extensive spread of mobile elements and whole-genome duplication occurred in the Saccharum group, which may have contributed to the origin and diversification of OGs in the sugarcane genome. Here, we identified and characterized OGs in sugarcane, examined their expression profiles across tissues and genotypes, and investigated their regulation under varying conditions. We identified 319 OGs in the Saccharum spontaneum genome without detected homology to protein-coding genes in green plants, except those belonging to Saccharinae. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 288 sugarcane OGs with detectable expression levels in at least one tissue or genotype. We observed similar expression patterns of OGs in sugarcane genotypes originating from the closest geographical locations. We also observed tissue-specific expression of some OGs, possibly indicating a complex regulatory process for maintaining diverse functional activity of these genes across sugarcane tissues and genotypes. Sixty-six OGs were differentially expressed under stress conditions, especially cold and osmotic stresses. Gene co-expression network and functional enrichment analyses suggested that sugarcane OGs are involved in several biological mechanisms, including stimulus response and defence mechanisms. These findings provide a valuable genomic resource for sugarcane researchers, especially those interested in selecting stress-responsive genes.

Comparison of stress biomarkers in laying hens raised under a long-term multiple stress condition.

The objective of the current experiment was to compare various stress biomarkers including the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H:L ratio) in blood and the corticosterone (CORT) concentrations in feathers, claws, and egg yolk and to find the potential stress biomarkers in laying hens exposed to a long-term multiple stress condition. A total of 24 Hy-Line Brown laying hens at 47 wk of age were allotted to 2 distinct conditions including normal condition (NC) and multiple stress condition (MC) with 8 replicated cages. In NC treatment, 8 hens were raised individually in the cage (0.16 m2/hen) under the temperature of 21 ± 0.6°C. In MC treatment, 16 hens were raised with 2 hens per cage to decrease space allowance (0.08 m2/hen) and the temperature was maintained at 31 ± 1.6°C. The experiment lasted for 8 wk. The common diets and water were fed on an ad libitum basis during the experiment. Results indicated no interactions between stress conditions and duration of stress exposure for all measurements. Hens in MC treatment had a greater (P < 0.01) blood H:L ratio than those in NC treatment. The greater (P < 0.05) H:L ratio for MC treatment was observed at all weeks. Hens in MC treatment had greater (P < 0.05) feather CORT concentrations than those in NC treatment. Feather CORT concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) with duration of the experiment. However, stress conditions did not influence claw CORT concentrations. A tendency (P = 0.081) was observed for greater yolk CORT concentrations in MC treatment than in NC treatment. In conclusion, the H:L ratio in blood and CORT concentrations in feathers and egg yolks are considered potential stress biomarkers in laying hens exposed to stress conditions, although each measurement has its respective limitations. However, CORT concentrations in the claw appear to be insensitive to a long-term stress exposure.

Effects of visual and aromatic stimulations on the perception of five fundamental tastes.

Taste perception is affected by various environmental factors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of visual and aromatic stimulations on stress responses and taste perception. Fourteen young healthy participants were assessed for stress levels and taste intensities under 5 different conditions: normal (no stimuli), watching an action scene, watching a forest scene, sniffing a rosemary aroma, and sniffing a lavender aroma. Compared to participants under the action scene condition, participants under the forest scene or under the rosemary aroma condition showed significantly lower stress levels. Furthermore, the forest scene condition significantly increased the saltiness intensity, whereas the rosemary aroma condition significantly increased the bitterness intensity. A positive or negative correlation was observed between the stress level and taste intensity of sourness and saltiness, respectively. These findings indicate that visual image and aroma have the potential to change taste perception as well as modulate stress conditions.

Metabolomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Oleuropein Bioconversion into Hydroxytyrosol during Table Olive Fermentation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.

This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the bioconversion of oleuropein into low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds in two selected Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains, namely, C11C8 and F3.5, under stress brine conditions and at two different temperatures (16°C and 30°C). For this purpose, we adopted an experimental strategy that combined high-resolution mass spectrometry, in silico functional analysis of glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1)-encoding candidate genes, and gene expression studies. The oleuropein hydrolysis products and the underlying enzymatic steps were identified, and a novel putative bgl gene was detected, using seven strains belonging to the same species as controls. According to metabolomic analysis, a new intermediate compound (decarboxymethyl dialdehydic form of oleuropein aglycone) was revealed. In addition, strain C11C8 showed a decrease in the oleuropein content greater than that of the F3.5 strain (30% versus 15%) at a temperature of 16°C. The highest increase in hydroxytyrosol was depicted by strain C11C8 at a temperature of 30°C. PCR assays and sequencing analyses revealed that both strains possess bglH1, bglH2, and bglH3 genes. Furthermore, a reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay showed that bglH3 is the only gene transcribed under all tested conditions, while bglH2 is switched off in strain C11C8 grown at cold temperatures, and no transcription was detected for the bglH1 gene. The bglH3 gene encodes a 6-phospho-ß-glucosidase, suggesting how phospho-ß-glucosidase activity could belong to the overall metabolic strategy undertaken by L. plantarum to survive in an environment poor in free sugars, like table olives. IMPORTANCE In the present study, a new candidate gene, bglH3, responsible for the ß-glucosidase-positive phenotype in L. plantarum was detected, providing the basis for the future marker-assisted selection of L. plantarum starter strains with a ß-glucosidase-positive phenotype. Furthermore, the ability of selected strains to hydrolyze oleuropein at low temperatures is important for application as starter cultures on an industrial scale.

Ubiquitin-mediated mechanisms of translational control.

mRNAs translation to proteins constitutes an important step of cellular gene expression that is highly regulated in response to different extracellular stimuli and stress situations. The fine control of protein synthesis is carried out both qualitatively and quantitatively, depending on the cellular demand at each moment. Post-translational modifications, in turn regulated by intracellular signaling pathways, play a key role in translation regulation. Among them, ubiquitination, whose role is becoming increasingly important in the control of translation, determines a correct balance between protein synthesis and degradation. In this review we focus on the role of ubiquitination (both degradative K48-linkage type and non-degradative K63-linkage type and monoubiquitination) in eukaryotic translation, both at the pre-translational level during the biogenesis/degradation of the components of translational machinery as well as at the co-translational level under stressful conditions. We also discuss other ubiquitin-dependent regulatory mechanisms of mRNA protection and resumption of translation after stress removal, where the ubiquitination of ribosomal proteins and associated regulatory proteins play an important role in the global rhythm of translation.

RalGPS2 Interacts with Akt and PDK1 Promoting Tunneling Nanotubes Formation in Bladder Cancer and Kidney Cells Microenvironment.

RalGPS2 is a Ras-independent Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for RalA GTPase that is involved in several cellular processes, including cytoskeletal organization. Previously, we demonstrated that RalGPS2 also plays a role in the formation of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in bladder cancer 5637 cells. In particular, TNTs are a novel mechanism of cell-cell communication in the tumor microenvironment, playing a central role in cancer progression and metastasis formation. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in TNTs formation still need to be fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that mid and high-stage bladder cancer cell lines have functional TNTs, which can transfer mitochondria. Moreover, using confocal fluorescence time-lapse microscopy, we show in 5637 cells that TNTs mediate the trafficking of RalA protein and transmembrane MHC class III protein leukocyte-specific transcript 1 (LST1). Furthermore, we show that RalGPS2 is essential for nanotubes generation, and stress conditions boost its expression both in 5637 and HEK293 cell lines. Finally, we prove that RalGPS2 interacts with Akt and PDK1, in addition to LST1 and RalA, leading to the formation of a complex that promotes nanotubes formation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that in the tumor microenvironment, RalGPS2 orchestrates the assembly of multimolecular complexes that drive the formation of TNTs.

An advanced scaling model system for non-condensable gas steam assisted gravity drainage recovery process.

Physical modeling is critical to study the performance of certain operation in heavy oil reservoirs. A well-designed experiment should guarantee the information gathered from lab would be applied to predict the thermal process in the field. To meet this requirement, the initial and boundary condition similarity between lab and field should be satisfied. It is reasonable to follow certain scaling criteria to fabricate the physical model. In addition to these conventional guidelines, this paper makes following recommendations to ensure a successful thermal recovery experiment,•To control and mitigate the steam channeling between the sand-pack and apparatus wall, the back wall is designed as it can be pushed enough to increase contact pressure.•Heat loss should be handled carefully, which impacting steam chamber growing and causing heat accumulation around the model.•A data acquisition system, based on PXI platform and Labview software, for the thermal recovery experiments had been proved valuable in evaluating the spreading progress of steam chamber.

Study of germination efficiency and temperature/drowning resistance in some ornamental plants treated with ultra high dilute compounds

The ultra-high dilutions (UHDs) can be used for decreasing stress conditions causing by climate variations. The present research investigated the effects of ultra-highdilutions (UHDs) on some ornamental plants, germination, and hormonal variations.Methods: In order to study the effect of UHDs (Calendula officinalisCalen. andArnica montanaArn.) on the physiological, primary metabolite, and hormonal variations of theOryza sativa L. (rice), 104 experiments were designed and statistically analyzed using the Design Expert 7.0.1 software over the general factorial design methodology. Two qualitative factors, including the UHDs/placebo usage and the type of plant usage, and two quantitative factors, including temperature and irrigation, were studied. The validated analysis was subjected to more extended studies on the variations in physiological growth, carbohydrate, protein content, and levels of plant hormones, including gibberellic acids, indole acetic acid, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid.Results: The statistical analysis resulted in a prediction model which was more than 75% correlates with experimental results. The results showed that the UHDs increased the carbohydrate and protein content of seedlings. Also, compared to placebo, the levels of hormones GA3 and IAA in all samples increase, and the amount of GA4 decreases. The amount of ABA and SA hormones inS. officinalisincreased under UHDs treatment while decreasing in the other two samples.Conclusion: The use of UHDs leads to an increase in the production of carbohydrate and protein content. Moreover, it causes significant variations in the growth-inducing hormone and increases the tolerance of seeds under higher/lower temperatures and draught/drowning. The results of this study open up a window to reduce germination survival and increase their resistance to sudden climate change.

Repetitive non-destructive extraction of lipids from Chlorella vulgaris grown under stress conditions.

The aim of this study was the investigation of non-destructive lipid extraction from Chlorella vulgaris grown under stress conditions of nutrient limitation and salinity. To select a suitable solvent for extraction, the performances of decane, dodecane and hexadecane were tested based on their effect on lipid extraction and cell viability. The results showed that dodecane was the most suitable solvent for the extraction process. The concentration of extracted lipids from stressed cells was 2762.52 ± 11.38 mg L-1, i.e. a value 1.75 times higher than that obtained from unstressed cells. Long-term extraction was also evaluated with continuous dodecane recirculation during five-stage extraction and a recovery time of 24 h between the extraction steps, which yielded after the fifth extraction stage a total lipid amount as high as 9811.56 mg L-1. These results showed that non-destructive lipid recovery can be effectively performed by applying stress conditions and in repetitive extractions.

Autophagy and Its Regulators in Response to Stress in Plants.

To survive in stressful conditions, plants have developed multiple strategies to relieve damage. One of the strategies is to clear the damaged protein and organelles. Autophagy is a highly conservative degradation process, which refers to the recycling of damaged protein and organelles. Over the past decades, increasing evidence has revealed the important roles of autophagy in response to stress conditions, and many factors have been revealed involved in the sophisticated regulation of the autophagy signaling pathway. However, the accurate regulation pathway of the autophagy pathway is largely unknown. The current review proposes how stress-response factors respond to stress conditions involved in regulating the autophagy signaling pathway. In short, clarifying the regulating pathway of autophagy in response to stress conditions is beneficial to plant breeding.