Browse Our Biology and Life Sciences Journals
Biology is a study of living objects and their life processes. It examines all aspects of living organisms such as their occurrence, classification, internal and external structure, nutrition, reproduction, inheritance, etc. The term “biology” is commonly replaced by the terms “life sciences” and “biological sciences.” There are dozens of branches of biology. Some of the major ones include:
Biology and Life Sciences
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV), a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus, poses a significant public health threat due to its high mortality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission. The attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins play pivotal roles in viral entry and host-cell fusion, making them prime targets for therapeutic and vaccine development. Recent advances in structural biology have provided high-resolution insights into the molecular architecture and functional dynamics of these glycoproteins, revealing key epitopes and domains essential for neutralizing antibody responses. The G glycoprotein's head domain and the prefusion F ectodomain have emerged as focal points for vaccine design, with multivalent display strategies showing promise in enhancing immunogenicity and breadth of protection. Structural studies have also informed the development of monoclonal antibodies like m102.4, offering potential post-exposure therapies. Additionally, insights from cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography have facilitated the design of structure-based inhibitors and next-generation vaccines, including nanoparticle and multi-epitope formulations. This review highlights recent structural findings on the NiV G and F glycoproteins, their implications for therapeutic strategies, and the challenges in developing effective and targeted interventions. A deeper understanding of these glycoproteins will be crucial for advancing NiV-specific therapeutics and vaccines, ultimately enhancing global preparedness against future outbreaks.
Abstract
Virgin olive oil is renowned for its high quality, health benefits, and antioxidant properties, primarily attributed to its unique composition of fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and tocopherols. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, physicochemical properties, as well as its application in margarine formulations. The olive oil was analysed for key quality parameters, tocopherols, and phenolic compositions, fatty acid profiles, and antioxidant activity. Margarine samples were prepared with varying levels of olive oil (10, 20, and 30%) and assessed for physicochemical properties and oxidative stability. Margarine samples enriched with olive oil were compared to a standard commercial margarine formulated with synthetic tocopherols. The olive oil used in this study exhibited low acidity (0.2%) and a high oleic acid content (70.94%). Analysis of polyphenols revealed that oleuropein and ligstroside derivatives were the most dominant (93.66 and 33 mg kg−1, respectively). The olive oil contained 226.03 mg kg−1 of total tocopherols, with alpha-tocopherol being the most prevalent, comprising over 98%. The addition of olive oil did not influence the humidity, peroxide value, or pH of the formulated margarines but improved their spreadability and oxidative stability by increasing the induction time for oxidation. Margarine enriched with 20% olive oil demonstrated the best oxidative stability and desirable physical properties, making this concentration the most suitable for preparing margarine. This study highlights olive oil's potential as a natural antioxidant, enhancing margarine's nutritional and functional qualities, and serving as a healthier alternative to synthetic additives.
Abstract
Berkeley rapid composting is one of the most effective ways of recovering organic waste, producing a final composting product in a very short time compared with other types of composting. For the first time in Morocco, and more specifically in Béni Mellal, this rapid composting process was applied to casing waste (50%) mixed with a manure fraction (50%) in order to study its qualitative and quantitative feasibility. The results of this experiment showed that the C/N ratio of the compost reached 21.3 and the quantitative efficiency did not exceed 47.9%. The aim of this work is to study the influence of the mixed fraction percentages and the effect of grinding the casings on the feasibility of rapid composting. The results showed that the economic efficiency of composting surpassed 60% when the casing fraction was more than 50% of the mixture and reached 65% when the casing waste was shredded.
Abstract
Besides its live-saving properties, antibiotic treatment affects the commensal microbiota facilitating colonization with potentially harmful microorganisms. Here we tested how commonly applied antibiotics induced gut microbiota changes and predisposed to intestinal carriage of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR Psae) upon exposure. Therefore, mice received either vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin plus sulbactam (A/S) or no antibiotics via the drinking water and were perorally challenged with a clinical MDR Psae isolate after antibiotic withdrawal. Whereas 100% of A/S and 55% of ciprofloxacin pretreated mice harbored Psae in their feces seven days post-challenge, intestinal Psae carriage rates were 20.0% and 26.3% in vancomycin pretreated and untreated mice, respectively. Microbiota analyses revealed that immediately before MDR Psae challenge, A/S pretreated mice displayed the lowest total bacterial, lactobacilli and Clostridium leptum fecal loads compared to other cohorts. Seven days following Psae exposure, however, higher numbers of apoptotic colonic epithelial cells were observed in A/S pretreated versus untreated mice that were accompanied by more enhanced innate and adaptive immune cell responses and nitric oxide secretion in colonic and ileal biopsies in the former versus the latter. In conclusion, distinct gut microbiota shifts following A/S pretreatment facilitate pronounced intestinal MDR Psae colonization and pro-inflammatory immune responses upon oral exposure.
Abstract
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is essential for arid economies but faces significant threats from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albidinis (Foa), which causes Bayoud disease and creates a dilemma between genetic resistance and fruit quality. This study explores the role of phenolic compounds as natural bioactive agents in enhancing plant defense. We measured Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and we utilized reversed-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) to identify specific phenolic acids in the roots and leaves of two rare cultivars, then performed an antifungal test. Our results revealed twelve phenolic acids linked to plant defense, many of which were previously unreported. Notably, the cultivar TIZ exhibited a TPC of 825.63 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/100 g dry weight in leaves and demonstrated 79% inhibition of Foa at 1,000 ppm. These findings suggest that phenolic-rich cultivars like TIZ can effectively combat Bayoud disease, fostering sustainable agriculture and enhancing breeding programs aimed at improving disease resistance and fruit quality.
Abstract
The aim was to develop a highly sensitive indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) method for detecting florfenicol (FF) in chicken meat and eggs. The concentrations of the coated antigen and monoclonal antibodies of FF and the reaction conditions were optimised. The performance of the established method was thoroughly evaluated. The results indicated that the detection limit (LOD) was 0.011 μg kg−1 with an IC50 of 0.224 μg kg−1 and a detection range of 0.011–4.538 μg kg−1. The coefficient of variation between and within batches was less than 10%. The spiked recoveries of chicken meat samples ranged from 90.10 to 95.55%, while the spiked recoveries of egg samples ranged from 91.28 to 97.56%. In conclusion, the developed ic-ELISA method is highly sensitive and suitable for monitoring and detecting trace FF residues in chicken meat samples.
The replacement of maize with grain sorghum is a promising practice for enhancing climate change adaptation strategies in the drought-prone areas of Central Europe. The refinement of the agrotechnics of commercial hybrids contributes to the development of sustainable agriculture. A field experiment was conducted between 24 May 2023 and 27 September 2023 in Keszthely (Hungary) in order to evaluate the effects of plant density (D1 = 240,000 plants ha–1, D2 = 280,000 plants ha–1) and equidistantly increasing N doses (0–40–80–120–160–200 kg N ha–1) on the grain yield, biomass weight and leaf area index (LAI) of 4 grain sorghum cultivars (G1 = KWS Nemesis, G2 = RTG Huggo, G3 = GK Erzsébet, G4 = ES Foehn). Another aim was to examine the effect of treatments on weed coverage. According to the results, plant density and N treatment had a general significant effect on grain yield (p < 0.05), biomass weight (p < 0.05) and LAI (p < 0.05; p = 0.015), regardless of the applied cultivar. Positive correlations were observed between biological and grain yield (D1: r = 0.9, p = 0.02; D2: r = 0.91, p = 0.01) as well as between LAI and grain yield (D1: r = 0.89, p = 0.6; D2: r = 0.91, p = 0.07). Significant differences were also observed between the grain yield (p < 0.05), biomass weight (p < 0.05) and LAI (p < 0.05) of the cultivars. In general, grain yields peaked around 120 kg N ha–1 at the plant density of 240,000 plants ha–1 and around 160 kg N ha–1 at the plant density of 280,000 plants ha–1. Among the experimental conditions RTG Huggo yielded the best results. In general, weed coverage was significantly lower (p = 0.002) in denser stands. The enhancing effect of N on weed coverage could not be detected (p = 0.318). In conclusion, a plant density of 280,000 plants ha–1, a N dose of 120–160 kg N ha–1 and RTG Huggo cultivar proved to be the best under the experimental conditions.
Abstract
In this study, polyphenol-rich extracts obtained from apple peel waste, red pepper, and grape seed were encapsulated to solve the problems originating from chemical or physical stability and to determine the bioaccessibility of phenolics. The bioaccessibility of encapsulated phenolic extracts during simulated digestion in the gastrointestinal tract was investigated using two different static in vitro models. The obtained phenolic-loaded chitosan particles had encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) in the range of 81.72–89.93% and 42.38–69.28% in all samples, respectively. The bioaccessibilities of phenolics determined following in vitro digestion methods in all samples were significantly different (P < 0.05). Polyphenol-chitosan loaded particles showed higher bioaccessibilities in all samples.
Abstract
Mushrooms gained significant attention in the field of health due to their rich biochemical composition and strong antioxidant potential. In this study, the biological activities of Macrolepiota mastoidea mushroom were investigated. The total carbohydrate and protein contents of the mushroom and its antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antiproliferative properties were evaluated. According to the obtained data, the total carbohydrate and total protein contents of M. mastoidea were determined as an important indicator for the biological activities of the mushroom. In addition, the high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds revealed that the mushroom exhibited strong antioxidant activity. The results obtained in tests such as DPPH and FRAP show that M. mastoidea has a high capacity to neutralise free radicals. In enzyme inhibition tests, significant effects were observed on acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, amylase, and glucosidase, suggesting that the mushroom may provide potential benefits in the treatment of neurological diseases and diabetes. In addition, it was determined that the antiproliferative effect against A549 lung cancer cell line was dose-dependent. These findings indicate that M. mastoidea is a valuable biological resource that can be used in health areas such as antioxidant defense, enzyme modulation, and cancer treatment. Advanced molecular and cellular studies are recommended to better understand the mechanisms of this effect.
Abstract
Cocoa that is abundant in dark chocolate is known for its anti-inflammatory effects that are mainly due to biologically active ingredients like polyphenols and methylxanthines. We here provide a comprehensive literature survey of both, in vitro and in vivo studies including clinical trials summarizing recent evidence on the immune-modulatory effects exerted by application of cocoa-rich dark chocolate or distinct cocoa-derived molecules. The survey revealed that dark chocolate and its derivatives could effectively dampen pro-inflammatory including oxidative stress responses in vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and decompression sickness, metabolic morbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, chronic kidney diseases, and polycystic ovary syndrome, enhance gut epithelial barrier function, and modulate pain sensations. On the other hand, dark chocolate consumption intake was found to worsen acne symptoms. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with dark chocolate with high contents of biologically active polyphenols and methylxanthines might be promising adjunct immune-modulatory treatment options of distinct acute as well as chronic inflammatory morbidities that need to be evaluated in more detail in future in vivo including clinical studies.
