101. Extremophilic microorganisms in Central EuropeVera Zgonik, Janez Mulec, Tina Eleršek, Nives Ogrinc, Polona Jamnik, Nataša Poklar Ulrih, 2021, review article Abstract: Extremophiles inhabit a wide variety of environments. Here we focus on extremophiles in moderate climates in central Europe, and particularly in Slovenia. Although multiple types of stress often occur in the same habitat, extremophiles are generally combined into groups according to the main stressor to which they are adapted. Several types of extremophiles, e.g., oligotrophs, are well represented and diverse in subsurface environments and karst regions. Psychrophiles thrive in ice caves and depressions with eternal snow and ice, with several globally distributed snow algae and psychrophilic bacteria that have been discovered in alpine glaciers. However, this area requires further research. Halophiles thrive in salterns while thermophiles inhabit thermal springs, although there is little data on such microorganisms in central Europe, despite many taxa being found globally. This review also includes the potential use of extremophiles in biotechnology and bioremediation applications.
Keywords: ekstremofilni mikroorganizmi, mikrobna ekologija, ekstremofili, oligotrofi, psihrofili, halofili, termofili Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 119; Downloads: 140
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102. Valorization of marine waste : use of industrial by-products and beach wrack towards the production of high added-value productsVita Rudovica, Ana Rotter, Susana P. Gaudêncio, Lucie Novoveská, Füsun Akgül, Linn Kristin Akslen-Hoel, Diogo A. M. Alexandrino, Olga Anne, Lauris Arbidans, Miroslava Atanassova, Magdalena Bełdowska, Jacek Bełdowski, Amit Bhatnagar, Oskars Bikovens, Katja Klun, 2021, review article Abstract: Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth’s surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other source of unused biomass derives from the beach wrack or washed-ashore organic material, especially in highly eutrophicated marine ecosystems. The development of high-added-value products from these side streams has been given priority in recent years due to the detection of a broad range of biopolymers, multiple nutrients and functional compounds that could find applications for human consumption or use in livestock/pet food, pharmaceutical and other industries. This review comprises a broad thematic approach in marine waste valorization, addressing the main achievements in marine biotechnology for advancing the circular economy, ranging from bioremediation applications for pollution treatment to energy and valorization for biomedical applications. It also includes a broad overview of the valorization of side streams in three selected case study areas: Norway, Scotland, and the Baltic Sea. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 141; Downloads: 138
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103. Global advances in tomato virome research : current status and the impact of high-throughput sequencingMark Paul Selda Rivarez, Ana Vučurović, Nataša Mehle, Maja Ravnikar, Denis Kutnjak, 2021, review article Abstract: Viruses cause a big fraction of economically important diseases in major crops, including tomato. In the past decade (2011–2020), many emerging or re-emerging tomato-infecting viruses were reported worldwide. In this period, 45 novel viral species were identified in tomato, 14 of which were discovered using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). In this review, we first discuss the role of HTS in these discoveries and its general impact on tomato virome research. We observed that the rate of tomato virus discovery is accelerating in the past few years due to the use of HTS. However, the extent of the post-discovery characterization of viruses is lagging behind and is greater for economically devastating viruses, such as the recently emerged tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Moreover, many known viruses still cause significant economic damages to tomato production. The review of databases and literature revealed at least 312 virus, satellite virus, or viroid species (in 22 families and 39 genera) associated with tomato, which is likely the highest number recorded for any plant. Among those, here, we summarize the current knowledge on the biology, global distribution, and epidemiology of the most important species. Increasing knowledge on tomato virome and employment of HTS to also study viromes of surrounding wild plants and environmental samples are bringing new insights into the understanding of epidemiology and ecology of tomato-infecting viruses and can, in the future, facilitate virus disease forecasting and prevention of virus disease outbreaks in tomato. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 137; Downloads: 145
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104. The importance of jellyfish-microbe interactions for biogeochemical cycles in the oceanTinkara Tinta, Katja Klun, Gerhard J. Herndl, 2021, review article Abstract: Jellyfish blooms can represent a significant but largely overlooked source of organic matter (OM), in particular at the local and regional scale. We provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the bloom-forming jellyfish as sink and source of OM for microorganisms. In particularly, we compare the composition, concentration, and release rates of the OM excreted by living jellyfish with the OM stored within jellyfish biomass, which becomes available to the ocean's interior only once jellyfish decay. We discuss how these two stoichiometrically different jelly-OM pools might influence the dynamics of microbial community and the surrounding ecosystem. We conceptualize routes of jelly-OM in the ocean, focusing on different envisioned fates of detrital jelly-OM. In this conceptual framework, we revise possible interactions between different jelly-OM pools and microbes and highlight major knowledge gaps to be addressed in the future. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 134; Downloads: 117
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105. A primer on the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data for detection of plant virusesDenis Kutnjak, Lucie Tamisier, Ian Adams, Neil Boonham, Thierry Candresse, Michela Chiumenti, Kris De Jonghe, Jan F. Kreuze, Marie Lefebvre, Goncalo Silva, Martha Malapi-Wight, Paolo Margaria, Irena Mavrič Pleško, Sam McGreig, Laura Miozzi, Benoit Remenant, Jean-Sébastien Reynard, Johan Rollin, Mike Rott, Olivier Schumpp, Sébastien Massart, Annelies Haegeman, 2021, review article Abstract: High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have become indispensable tools assisting plant virus diagnostics and research thanks to their ability to detect any plant virus in a sample without prior knowledge. As HTS technologies are heavily relying on bioinformatics analysis of the huge amount of generated sequences, it is of utmost importance that researchers can rely on efficient and reliable bioinformatic tools and can understand the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of the tools used. Here, we present a critical overview of the steps involved in HTS as employed for plant virus detection and virome characterization. We start from sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction as appropriate to the chosen HTS strategy, which is followed by basic data analysis requirements, an extensive overview of the in-depth data processing options, and taxonomic classification of viral sequences detected. By presenting the bioinformatic tools and a detailed overview of the consecutive steps that can be used to implement a well-structured HTS data analysis in an easy and accessible way, this paper is targeted at both beginners and expert scientists engaging in HTS plant virome projects. Keywords: plant virus, high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics, detection, discovery Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 124; Downloads: 116
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106. Response of hyporheic biofilms to temperature changes and dissolved organic carbon enrichment: a mesocosm study : a mesocosm studyTatjana Simčič, Monika Poklukar, Nataša Mori, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose
Hyporheic biofilms are the central site for biogeochemical cycling in streams and rivers. In view of global warming and increasing human pressures, this study aimed to compare the response of hyporheic biofilm biomass and activities from an unpolluted reference stream reach surrounded by forest with those from a stream reach exposed to agricultural and urban land use using a mesocosm experiment in which the water temperature and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents were manipulated.
Methods
Hyporheic sediments collected in the field from the two study reaches (i.e. reference and impacted) were incubated in the laboratory at two different temperatures (10 °C, 14 °C) and wetted with three types of synthetic water (control [C] – 0 mg L−1; low DOC – 5 mg L−1; high DOC – 30 mg L−1) for four weeks. The responses of the hyporheic biofilms were measured weekly using structural (total protein content [TPC] as a proxy for biofilm biomass) and functional measures (electron transport system activity [ETSA] and community-level physiological profiling [CLPP]).
Results
The response of hyporheic biofilms to temperature changes and DOC enrichment was site-specific for all studied measures (TPC, ETSA and CLPP, including measured average well colour development [AWCD]). The addition of DOC to biofilms from the pristine stream reach significantly heightened the responses at 10 °C, a temperature within the normal environmental temperature ranges of the reference location, but not at 14 °C, which was here, a temperature outside normal environmental range. On the other hand, biofilms from the impacted stream reach exhibited increased responses following DOC enrichment under both temperature regimes, with a particularly pronounced response at 14 ºC, in this case, both experimental temperatures were within the normal environmental temperature ranges of the study locations.
Conclusion
Hyporheic biofilms were shown to be, like benthic biofilms, sensitive to temperature changes and organic enrichment, but their response to temperature changes and enrichment caused by climate change and/or other anthropogenic pressures (i.e. point and non-point pollution, removal of the riparian zone, hydromorphological modifications, etc.) was not simply linear but site-specific. The intensity of the response, characterized by increased activity and biomass production, appears to be constrained within the temperature ranges prevalent in the environment from which the biofilms originate. These findings emphasize the importance of site-specific considerations in predicting the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on these critical components of river and stream ecosystems. Keywords: sediments, respiration, enzymes, functional indicators, interactions Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 137; Downloads: 141
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107. Energy metabolism in IDH1 wild-type and IDH1-mutated glioblastoma stem cells : a novel target for therapy?Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, Vashendriya V. V. Hira, Amber J. van Dijck, Metka Novak, Barbara Breznik, Remco J. Molenaar, 2021, review article Abstract: Cancer is a redox disease. Low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are beneficial for cells and have anti-cancer effects. ROS are produced in the mitochondria during ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In the present review, we describe ATP production in primary brain tumors, glioblastoma, in relation to ROS production. Differentiated glioblastoma cells mainly use glycolysis for ATP production (aerobic glycolysis) without ROS production, whereas glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in hypoxic periarteriolar niches use OXPHOS for ATP and ROS production, which is modest because of the hypoxia and quiescence of GSCs. In a significant proportion of glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) is mutated, causing metabolic rewiring, and all cancer cells use OXPHOS for ATP and ROS production. Systemic therapeutic inhibition of glycolysis is not an option as clinical trials have shown ineffectiveness or unwanted side effects. We argue that systemic therapeutic inhibition of OXPHOS is not an option either because the anti-cancer effects of ROS production in healthy cells is inhibited as well. Therefore, we advocate to remove GSCs out of their hypoxic niches by the inhibition of their binding to niches to enable their differentiation and thus increase their sensitivity to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Keywords: glioblastoma stem cells, IDH1-mutation, energy metabolism Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 133; Downloads: 151
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108. From plastics to microplastics and organismsOliver Bajt, 2021, review article Abstract: The amount of plastic waste and microplastics released into marine environments has increased rapidly in recent decades. The durability of plastic materials results in major problems following their release into the environment. This study provides an overview of recent findings on issues related to plastic degradation, the accumulation of microplastics in mussels and fishes, and the toxicological effects associated with the ingestion of microplastics. These findings confirm the serious problem of slowly degrading plastics (which rarely degrade fully) in natural marine environments. Microplastics have become widespread pollutants and have been detected in mussels and fish around the world. Microplastic particles, whether virgin or with adsorbed pollutants on their surfaces, pose a health problem after being ingested by marine organisms. This paper ends by highlighting the need for certain improvements in studies of these phenomena. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 120; Downloads: 88
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109. Stem cells of aquatic invertebrates as an advanced tool for assessing ecotoxicological impactsAmalia Rosner, Jean Armengaud, Loriano Ballarin, Stéphanie Barnay-Verdier, Francesca Cima, Ana Varela Coelho, Isabelle Domart-Coulon, Damjana Drobne, Anne-Marie Geneviere, Anita Jemec Kokalj, Ewa Kotlarska, Andreja Ramšak, 2021, review article Abstract: Environmental stressors are assessed through methods that quantify their impacts on a wide range of metrics including species density, growth rates, reproduction, behaviour and physiology, as on host-pathogen interactions and immunocompetence. Environmental stress may induce additional sublethal effects, like mutations and epigenetic signatures affecting offspring via germline mediated transgenerational inheritance, shaping phenotypic plasticity, increasing disease susceptibility, tissue pathologies, changes in social behaviour and biological invasions.
The growing diversity of pollutants released into aquatic environments requires the development of a reliable, standardised and 3R (replacement, reduction and refinement of animals in research) compliant in vitro toolbox. The tools have to be in line with REACH regulation 1907/2006/EC, aiming to improve strategies for potential ecotoxicological risks assessment and monitoring of chemicals threatening human health and aquatic environments.
Aquatic invertebrates' adult stem cells (ASCs) are numerous and can be pluripotent, as illustrated by high regeneration ability documented in many of these taxa. This is of further importance as in many aquatic invertebrate taxa, ASCs are able to differentiate into germ cells. Here we propose that ASCs from key aquatic invertebrates may be harnessed for applicable and standardised new tests in ecotoxicology. As part of this approach, a battery of modern techniques and endpoints are proposed to be tested for their ability to correctly identify environmental stresses posed by emerging contaminants in aquatic environments.
Consequently, we briefly describe the current status of the available toxicity testing and biota-based monitoring strategies in aquatic environmental ecotoxicology and highlight some of the associated open issues such as replicability, consistency and reliability in the outcomes, for understanding and assessing the impacts of various chemicals on organisms and on the entire aquatic environment. Following this, we describe the benefits of aquatic invertebrate ASC-based tools for better addressing ecotoxicological questions, along with the current obstacles and possible overhaul approaches. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 142; Downloads: 143
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110. Angiogenesis in gynecological cancers and the options for anti-angiogenesis therapyBahar Yetkin-Arik, Arnoud W. Kastelein, Ingeborg Klaassen, Charlotte H. J. R. Jansen, Yani P. Latul, Miloš Vittori, Aydan Biri, Korhan Kahraman, Arjan W. Griffioen, Frederic Amant, Christianne A. R. Lok, Reinier O. Schlingemann, Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, 2021, review article Abstract: Angiogenesis is required in cancer, including gynecological cancers, for the growth of primary tumors and secondary metastases. Development of anti-angiogenesis therapy in gynecological cancers and improvement of its efficacy have been a major focus of fundamental and clinical research. However, survival benefits of current anti-angiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab, in patients with gynecological cancer, are modest. Therefore, a better understanding of angiogenesis and the tumor microenvironment in gynecological cancers is urgently needed to develop more effective anti-angiogenic therapies, either or not in combination with other therapeutic approaches. We describe the molecular aspects of (tumor) blood vessel formation and the tumor microenvironment and provide an extensive clinical overview of current anti-angiogenic therapies for gynecological cancers. We discuss the different phenotypes of angiogenic endothelial cells as potential therapeutic targets, strategies aimed at intervention in their metabolism, and approaches targeting their (inflammatory) tumor microenvironment. Keywords: angiogenesis, anti-angiogenic therapy, endothelial cells, endothelial cell metabolism, gynecological cancer, non-tip cells, tip cells, tumor microenvironment, vascular disrupting agents Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 116; Downloads: 123
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