Background: A prerequisite for long-term survival of populations under multi-stress conditions is their capacity to set up efficient adaptive strategies. However, changes in the activity of molecular biomarkers have been for decades considered as early signals of the deterioration of the fish health and evidence of stress-related adverse biological effects. The aim of this study was to show that such changes actually represent adaptive response of fish to chemical stress. Gene expression and enzyme activity level in liver and brain of specimens from two populations of Abramis brama from contrasted habitats (nature reserve and urban) were examined. Selected parameters included biomarkers of general stress, antioxidative defence, xenobiotic metabolism, endocrine disruption, glucose homeostasis, iron homeostasis, and neurotoxicity. Results: Exposure of A. brama population from urban area to chemical stress was confirmed by assessment of chronic toxic pressure at fish habitats using Toxic Unit approach. The most pronounced response to chemical stress is observed through the activation of antioxidative defence mechanisms in brain and liver at gene and enzyme activity level, high biotransformation capacity of liver, and activation of mechanisms that will meet energy demands and compensate for the metabolic costs of the response to toxicants (higher expression of genes related to glucose homeostasis in the exposed population). Higher hepatosomatic index in the exposed population implies liver hypertrophy due to increased functional load caused by pollution. Body condition factors indicate good overall condition of both fish populations and confirm high efficacy of mobilized adaptation mechanisms in the exposed population. Conclusions: The study provided the first data on basal expression of a number of genes in A. brama, potentially valuable for biomonitoring studies in absence of clear pollution gradient and/or reference sites (conditions). The study highlights importance of newly identified roles of various genes and proteins, typically considered as biomarkers of effects, and shows that changes in these parameters do not necessarily indicate the deterioration of the fish health. Such changes should be considered as adaptive response to chemical stress, rather than direct proof of ecological impact of pollution in situ.

Aims: Because the Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most well-known pathogens associated with medical devices and nosocomial infections, the aim of the study was to examine antibiofilm potential of emodin against it.Methods and Results: Antibacterial activity was examined through microdilution assay. Antibiofilm testing included crystal violet staining of biofilm biomass and morphology analysis by Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, aerobic respiration was monitored using the Micro-Oxymax respirometer. For investigation of gene expression qRT-PCR was performed. Emodin demonstrated strong antibacterial activity and ability to inhibit biofilm formation of all tested strains. The effect on preformed biofilms was spotted in few strains. AFM revealed that emodin affects biofilm structure and roughness. Monitoring of respiration under emodin treatment in planktonic and biofilm form revealed that emodin influenced aerobic respiration.Moreover, qRT-PCR showed that emodin modulates expression of icaA, icaD, srrA and srrB genes, as well as RNAIII, and that this activity was strain-specific. Conclusion:The results obtained in this study indicate the novel antibiofilm activity of emodin and its multiple pathways of action. Significance and Impact of Study:This is the first study that examined pathways through which emodin expressed its antibiofilm activity.

Recovery after exposure to herbicides-atrazine, isoproturon, and trifluralin-their binary and ternary mixtures, was studied under laboratory conditions using a slightly adapted standard protocol for Lemna minor. The objectives of the present study were (1) to compare empirical to predicted toxicity of selected herbicide mixtures; (2) to assess L. minor recovery potential after exposure to selected individual herbicides and their mixtures; and (3) to suggest an appropriate recovery potential assessment approach and endpoint in a modified laboratory growth inhibition test. The deviation of empirical from predicted toxicity was highest in binary mixtures of dissimilarly acting herbicides. The concentration addition model slightly underestimated mixture effects, indicating potential synergistic interactions between photosynthetic inhibitors (atrazine and isoproturon) and a cell mitosis inhibitor (trifluralin). Recovery after exposure to the binary mixture of atrazine and isoproturon was fast and concentration-independent: no significant differences between relative growth rates (RGRs) in any of the mixtures (IC10, 25, and 50) versus control level were recorded in the last interval of the recovery phase. The recovery of the plants exposed to binary and ternary mixtures of dissimilarly acting herbicides was strictly concentration-dependent. Only plants exposed to IC10, regardless of the herbicides, recovered RGRs close to control level in the last interval of the recovery phase. The inhibition of the RGRs in the last interval of the recovery phase compared with the control level is a proposed endpoint that could inform on reversibility of the effects and indicate possible mixture effects on plant population recovery potential.

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Polygonum aviculare and Persicaria amphibia (subfam. Polygonoideae) are used in traditional cuisines and folk medicine in various cultures. Previous studies indicated that phytochemicals obtained from Polygonoideae plants could sensitize chemoresistant cancer cells and enhance the efficacy of some cytostatics. Here, the cytotoxic properties of chemically characterized ethanol extracts obtained from P. aviculare and P. amphibia, individually and in combination with doxorubicin (D), were determined against hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Phenolic composition, cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and the expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 were examined by following methods: LC-MS/MS, LC-DAD-MS, MTT, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR. Extracts were rich in dietary polyphenolics. Synergistic cytotoxicity was detected for extracts combined with D. The observed synergisms are linked to the interference with apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression of Keap1-Nrf2 genes involved in cytoprotection. The combined approach of extracts and D could emerge as a potential pathway of chemotherapy improvement.

Fermented foods containing psychobiotics are of growing interest among food scientists. Human-derived Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, a gut symbiont and potential psychobiotic strain, has been shown to exhibit the following health benefits: anti-inflammation and GABA-production capacity, as well as modulation of pathogen and cancer cell growth. The aim of this research was to develop an acid-coagulated fresh soft quark-type cheese, fermented with L. reuteri DSM 17938, with enhanced bioactivity, sensory acceptability, and overall likeability. Psychobiotic-containing cheeses represent the food of a new generation, so it is of great importance to gain the trust of the consumers. To develop a familiar taste, cheese samples were enriched with mushroom powders of Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus. A high abundance of lactic acid bacteria was maintained in all cheese samples (>log 7.64 CFU/mL), while cheese extracts exhibited cytotoxicity to colon cancer cell line HCT116 (up to 30.96%) in vitro. Additionally, cheese samples provided a favorable medium for the growth of the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (>log 7.11 CFU/mL). Sensory evaluation revealed high scores for all samples (up to 97.21% of maximum overall quality). The survey conducted in this study offered insights into consumer willingness to try products containing psychobiotics. This study demonstrates the potential for the successful development of fermented food products with L. reuteri DSM 17938, which exhibits all the desired traits that consumers may receive well. Further research is required to explore the potential health benefits of these innovative food products.

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