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The impact of agricultural practices and soil management on the communities of arthropods living in the agricultural landscape is acknowledged as a critical issue by the literature, and it needs to be better investigated to improve the ecological sustainability of agriculture. In the present study, we aimed to study how soil management affect carabid species distribution in one of the most typical agroecosystem of the Mediterranean region, i.e. the olive grove. In South Italy olive plantations feature different types of soil management, from tillage to half- or full-cover cropping. Species distribution has been examined for a total of 10,189 individuals and 62 species collected from 17 sites. Notably from our analysis we have observed that three factors (climax vegetation, soil features and soil management) explained half of the data variability. The composition of species groupings mirrors both bioclimatic conditions (climax vegetation) and soil features, especially watering, while soil management affects the species distribution, with different intensity from site to site. Eleven species have been recognized as the most abundant in the different facets of the studied olive groves and consequently designated as characteristics of the olive agroecosystem. The species traits of the sampled species have been weighted for a compelling evaluation of the effects of agricultural management on biodiversity, showing uniform traits distribution when coping with the ecological factors that characterize the different plantation facets. We have found that carabid beetles can be used as model organisms for studying the effects of agricultural practices. Our study suggests that the interaction of man-induced trasformation with the natural background of the olive agroecosystem may be difficult to disentangle, so that such complexity must be taken into account when carabid beetles are expected to provide an ecosystem service for good agricultural practices.

The African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest terrestrial animal on Earth and is found primarily in Southern and Eastern Africa. It is a hindgut, colonic fermenter and subsists on a diet of raw plant materials found in its grazing area. In this study the bacterial, archaeal and fungal populations of seven African savanna elephant fecal metagenomes were first characterized using amplicon sequencing. On the genus level it was observed that the p-1088-a5 gut group in the bacteriome, Methanocorpusulum and Methanobrevibacter in the archaeome and Alternaria, Aurobasidium, Didymella and Preussia in the mycome, predominated. Subsequently, metagenomic shotgun sequencing was employed to identify possible functional pathways and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Carbohydrate catabolic pathways represented the main degradation pathways, and the fecal metagenome was enriched in the glycohydroside (GH) class of CAZymes. Additionally, the top GH families identified - GH43, GH2, GH13 and GH3 - are known to be associated with cellulytic, hemicellulytic and pectolytic activities. Finally, the CAZymes families identified in the African savanna elephant were compared with those found in the Asian elephant and it was demonstrated that there is a unique repository of CAZymes that could be leveraged in the biotechnological context such as the degradation of lignocellulose for the production of second-generation biofuels and energy., (© 2024 The Author(s). Animal Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Decreasing pesticide use in olive groves is central to controlling pathogens and pests such as Bactrocera oleae. This has led to the development of mass trapping devices which not only minimize pesticide use but, with improved efficacy of attractants, also decrease costs associated with pest control and ensures that the quality of olive oil is safe for human consumption. This study was undertaken to test a new device which utilizes reduced quantities of both insecticide (lambda-cyalothrin) as well as the female olive fly pheromone (1,7-dioxaspiro-(5.5)-undecane). The new device was tested against an older device manufactured by the same company. The use of plastic polymers as substrate for encapsulating the pheromone allowed for a slower pheromone release, prolonging the efficacy and duration and thus reducing costs. The density of adult populations was monitored using yellow chromotropic traps that were checked every ten days and the degree of olive infestation, as determined by preimago stages, was assessed by analyzing 100 drupes per plot. Infestation analyses were performed every ten days. The control plot had the lowest density of adults and the highest drupe infestation rate. The new devices were more effective than the older devices in both attracting adults and controlling infestation of drupes. Moreover, the new devices containing reduced amounts of pheromone and insecticide were cheaper and exhibited longer functional efficacy. In addition to the slower release of attractants, the plastic polymers used in these newer devices were also more resistant to mechanical and weather degradations. Results demonstrate that mass trapping can indeed be an effective means of controlling B. oleae via eco-sustainable olive farming.

Several attempts for evaluating environmental impact of active agents allowed in organic olive farming against Bactrocera oleae have been made, but very few studies were performed contemporaneously on more than one of them. Insects were chosen as indicators because they are known to react very quickly to environmental perturbations, mainly at the community level. In fact, the coenosis is the functional unit interacting with biotic and abiotic environmental parameters. Seven taxa, known for their sensitivity to habitat alterations, were sampled and grouped in functional groups: predators and parasitoids, phytophagouses and pollinators. The coenotic balance between these two functional groups was analyzed. The study was carried out in an organic olive orchard in the municipality of Terranova da Sibari, Cosenza, Southern Italy. The tested active agents (Azadirachtin, Rotenone, Copper Oxychloride) were sprayed twice (end of September and middle October). During the treatments the population dynamics of all the taxa were knocked-down. No one tested compound seems to be harmless to the entomocoenosis, particularly on phytophagouses and pollinators. In truly organic farming it is necessary to provide natural refuge areas to beneficial insects (i.e. pest antagonists) in which no active agents are sprayed and alternative preys could be found.

Within the framework of research concerning the application of techniques alternative to chemical pesticides for control of parasites, the C.R.A. Experimental Institute for Olive Growing for many years has been performing a large investigation in order to detect sources of genetic resistance in olive germplasm. In the present study we observed the behavior related to the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) infestation and Camarosporium dalmaticum infection of ten olive cultivars farmed under the same agronomic and climatic conditions in Calabria, Southern Italy. The sampling and the data collecting were carried out in three different ripening times. The drupe amount of oleuropein and cyanidine was detected by laboratory analyses in order to verify a possible correlation between these molecules and the level of infestation/infection of the above-mentioned parasites. The obtained data were submitted to analysis of variance. In relation to the fungal infection the results displayed that cvs Tonda nera dolce showed the lowest susceptibility, while the cv Giarraffa turned out to be the most susceptible. The less susceptible cultivars to the phytophagous were Tonda nera dolce and Bhardi Tirana. Since the less susceptible cultivar to olive fly attacks are the same observed in relation to the susceptibility to olive fruit rot, it is suggested a relation between the olive fly infestation and the fungal infection. It suggests the utility to achieve these results both to transfer directly to the farmers' world and to emphasize ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.

The combined pressures of anthropogenic activities require rapid assessments of environmental impacts on ecosystems to develop strategies for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. This study investigates the consequences of the anthropogenic effects in the upper Val d'Agri (Basilicata, Italy) by employing a multi-taxonomic analysis to investigate spatial dynamics and species responses to these pressures. By cataloguing 151 diverse species of small mammals, reptiles, birds, ground beetles, and lichens, we established a valuable baseline for analysing the local biodiversity. We assessed the relationship between anthropic impacts (industrial areas, roads, agriculture, forestry, etc.), vegetation cover, and species diversity. Our findings revealed a negative relationship between the number of species and proximity to industrial areas, emphasising the impact of these activities. Moreover, we observed a predominance of generalist biological traits across taxa in all the study sites rather than an increase in species specialisation with increased distance. This may suggest a homogenising effect caused by various anthropogenic activities that cause habitat fragmentation and species mortality, underlining the lasting influence of these activities on the biodiversity of the upper Agri Valley. Additionally, our study identifies numerous protected species, highlighting their vulnerability and emphasising the necessity for targeted conservation efforts to safeguard their existence., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All procedures performed in this study involving animals complied with the ethical standards of the institutional committee. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors have approved the final manuscript and consent to its publication. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes. Although studies have previously investigated metabolic disruptions in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the exact metabolic mechanisms underlying DPN remain largely unknown. Herein, a specific form of metabolic remodeling involving aberrant ketogenesis within Schwann cells (SCs) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetes mellitus is identified. The PNS adapts poorly to such aberrant ketogenesis, resulting in disrupted energy metabolism, mitochondrial damage, and homeostatic decompensation, ultimately contributing to DPN. Additionally, the maladaptive peripheral ketogenesis is highly dependent on the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB 1 R)-Hmgcs2 axis. Silencing CB 1 R reprogrammed the metabolism of SCs by blocking maladaptive ketogenesis, resulting in rebalanced energy metabolism, reduced histopathological changes, and improved neuropathic symptoms. Moreover, this metabolic reprogramming can be induced pharmacologically using JD5037, a peripheral CB 1 R blocker. These findings revealed a new metabolic mechanism underlying DPN, and promoted CB 1 R as a promising therapeutic target for DPN., (© 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising next-generation therapeutics and drug delivery systems due to demonstrated safety and efficacy in preclinical models and early-stage clinical trials. There is an urgent need to address the immunogenicity of EVs (beyond the apparent lack of immunotoxicity) to advance clinical development. To date, few studies have assessed unintended immunological recognition of EVs. An in-depth understanding of EV-induced immunogenicity and clearance is necessary to develop effective therapeutic strategies, including approaches to mitigate immunological recognition when undesired. This article summarizes various factors involved in the potential immunogenicity of EVs and strategies to reduce immunological recognition for improved therapeutic benefit., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized biomolecular packages involved in intercellular communication. EVs are released by all cells, making them broadly applicable as therapeutic, diagnostic, and mechanistic components in (patho)physiology. Sample purity is critical for correctly attributing observed effects to EVs and for maximizing therapeutic and diagnostic performance. Lipoprotein contaminants represent a major challenge for sample purity. Lipoproteins are approximately six orders of magnitude more abundant in the blood circulation and overlap in size, shape, and density with EVs. This study represents the first example of an EV purification method based on the chemically-induced breakdown of lipoproteins. Specifically, a styrene-maleic acid (SMA) copolymer is used to selectively breakdown lipoproteins, enabling subsequent size-based separation of the breakdown products from plasma EVs. The use of the polymer followed by tangential flow filtration or size-exclusion chromatography results in improved EV yield, preservation of EV morphology, increased EV markers, and reduced contaminant markers. SMA-based EV purification enables improved fluorescent labeling, reduces interactions with macrophages, and enhances accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity to detect EV biomarkers, indicating benefits for various downstream applications. In conclusion, SMA is a simple and effective method to improve the purity and yield of plasma-derived EVs, which favorably impacts downstream applications., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Flexible and stretchable bioelectronics provides a biocompatible interface between electronics and biological systems and has received tremendous attention for in situ monitoring of various biological systems. Considerable progress in organic electronics has made organic semiconductors, as well as other organic electronic materials, ideal candidates for developing wearable, implantable, and biocompatible electronic circuits due to their potential mechanical compliance and biocompatibility. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), as an emerging class of organic electronic building blocks, exhibit significant advantages in biological sensing due to the ionic nature at the basis of the switching behavior, low driving voltage (<1 V), and high transconductance (in millisiemens range). During the past few years, significant progress in constructing flexible/stretchable OECTs (FSOECTs) for both biochemical and bioelectrical sensors has been reported. In this regard, to summarize major research accomplishments in this emerging field, this review first discusses structure and critical features of FSOECTs, including working principles, materials, and architectural engineering. Next, a wide spectrum of relevant physiological sensing applications, where FSOECTs are the key components, are summarized. Last, major challenges and opportunities for further advancing FSOECT physiological sensors are discussed., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Recently, many new types of cosmetic illegal additives have been screened in the market. Most of the new additives were new drugs or analogues with very similar structures to other prohibited additives, which were difficult to be identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) only. Therefore, a new strategy is proposed, which is chromatographic separation combined with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) structural identification. The suspected samples were screened by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), followed by purification and extraction through silica-gel column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Finally, the extracts were identified unambiguously by NMR as bimatoprost and latanoprost, which were identified to be new cosmetic illegal additives in eyelash serums in China. Meanwhile, bimatoprost and latanoprost were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrum (HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS). The quantitative method demonstrated good linearity in the range of approximately 0.25-50 ng/mL (R 2  > 0.9992), with limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg, respectively. The accuracy, precision, and reproducibility were confirmed to be acceptable., (© 2023. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are presently a focus of intense research and hold great potential in expanding the horizons of the bioelectronics industry. The notable characteristics of OECTs, including their electrolyte-gating, which offers intimate interfacing with biological environments, and aqueous stability, make them particularly suitable to be operated within a living organism (in vivo). Unlike the existing in vivo bioelectronic devices, mostly based on rigid metal electrodes, OECTs form a soft mechanical contact with the biological milieu and ensure a high signal-to-noise ratio because of their powerful amplification capability. Such features make OECTs particularly desirable for a wide range of in vivo applications, including electrophysiological recordings, neuron stimulation, and neurotransmitter detection, and regulation of plant processes in vivo. In this review, a systematic compilation of the in vivo applications is presented that are addressed by the OECT technology. First, the operating mechanisms, and the device design and materials design principles of OECTs are examined, and then multiple examples are provided from the literature while identifying the unique device properties that enable the application progress. Finally, one critically looks at the future of the OECT technology for in vivo bioelectronic applications., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The hyperdiverse order Coleoptera comprises a staggering ~25% of known species on Earth. Despite recent breakthroughs in next generation sequencing, there remains a limited representation of beetle diversity in assembled genomes. Most notably, the ground beetle family Carabidae, comprising more than 40,000 described species, has not been studied in a comparative genomics framework using whole genome data. Here we generate a high-quality genome assembly for Nebria riversi, to examine sources of novelty in the genome evolution of beetles, as well as genetic changes associated with specialization to high-elevation alpine habitats. In particular, this genome resource provides a foundation for expanding comparative molecular research into mechanisms of insect cold adaptation. Comparison to other beetles shows a strong signature of genome compaction, with N. riversi possessing a relatively small genome (~147 Mb) compared to other beetles, with associated reductions in repeat element content and intron length. Small genome size is not, however, associated with fewer protein-coding genes, and an analysis of gene family diversity shows significant expansions of genes associated with cellular membranes and membrane transport, as well as protein phosphorylation and muscle filament structure. Finally, our genomic analyses show that these high-elevation beetles have endosymbiotic Spiroplasma, with several metabolic pathways (e.g., propanoate biosynthesis) that might complement N. riversi, although its role as a beneficial symbiont or as a reproductive parasite remains equivocal., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This paper presents the first acute toxicity data of the natural insecticide spinosad in amphibians. The sensitivity of two neotropical sympatric anuran species, Boana pulchella and Rhinella arenarum, to spinosad-based formulation Tracer™ was evaluated. Lethal effects are reported in tadpoles of B. pulchella stage 25 between 2.81 and 35.44 mg spinosad/L, while for the same concentration range no lethal effects were detected in tadpoles of R. arenarum of the same stage. In addition, Tracer™ produced sublethal effects at the individual level on the swimming activity, morphology (growth and presence of abnormalities), and development of B. pulchella from 2.81 to 5.78 mg spinosad/L, while in R. arenarum effects were only detected in the swimming activity and growth from 2.78 and 6.22 mg/L, respectively. At the biochemical level, Tracer™ produced inhibition of different enzymatic activities, among them, catalase activity at 2.81 mg spinosad/L, glutathione S- transferase activity from 2.81 to 2.98 mg spinosad/L, and acetylcholinesterase activity at 2.81 mg spinosad/L. These findings allow us to conclude that B. pulchella is more sensitive than R. arenarum to spinosad-based formulation Tracer™. The effects demonstrated here are not consistent with those expected since spinosad is supposed to be an environmental healthy alternative. This paper provides useful and necessary information to implement regulations on the use of new compounds entering the market and its associated risks.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor materials that have gained great interest due to their unique characteristics like optical properties. They are extensively being used in different areas, including solar cells, light-emitting diodes, laser technology, as well as biological and biomedical applications. In this review, comprehensive information about different aspects of QDs is provided, including their types and classifications, synthesis approaches, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, biological applications, and potentials in clinical applications. With a focus on the biological aspects, the respective in vitro and in vivo studies are collected and presented. Various surface modifications on QDs are discussed as directly influencing their properties like toxicity and optical abilities. Given the promising results, these materials are clinically used for targeted molecular therapy and imaging. However, there are a large number of questions that should be addressed before the wide application of QDs in a clinical setting. Regarding the existing barriers to QDs, suggestions are given and discussed to present an appropriate route for the clinical use of these materials., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (OLF) is a major agricultural pest, whose control primarily relies on the use of chemical insecticides. Therefore, development of sustainable control strategies is highly desirable. The primary endosymbiotic bacterium of OLF, 'Candidatus Erwinia dacicola', is essential for successful larval development in unripe olive fruits. Therefore, targeting this endosymbiont with antimicrobial compounds may result in OLF fitness reduction and may exert control on natural populations of OLF., Results: Here, we evaluate the impact of compounds with antimicrobial activity on the OLF endosymbiont. Copper oxychloride (CO) and the fungal metabolite viridiol (Vi), produced by Trichoderma spp., were used. Laboratory bioassays were carried out to assess the effect of oral administration of these compounds on OLF fitness and molecular analyses (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) were conducted to measure the load of OLF-associated microorganisms in treated flies. CO and Vi were both able to disrupt the symbiotic association between OLF and its symbiotic bacteria, determining a significant reduction in the endosymbiont and gut microbiota load as well as a decrease in OLF fitness. CO had a direct negative effect on OLF adults. Conversely, exposure to Vi significantly undermined larval development of the treated female's progeny but did not show any toxicity in OLF adults., Conclusions: These results provide new insights into the symbiotic control of OLF and pave the way for the development of more sustainable strategies of pest control based on the use of natural compounds with antimicrobial activity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Plant nutritional quality and chemical characteristics may affect the fitness of phytophagous insects. Here, the olfactory preferences of Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) females toward olives with different maturation and infestation status were evaluated in three cultivars: Ottobratica, Roggianella and Sinopolese. Volatile profiles from olives were identified by SPME/GC-MS. Choice tests were performed to determine the responses of B. oleae adult females toward fruits and pure chemicals linked to infestation degree. Cultivar was the main source of variability explaining the differences recorded in volatile emissions. Moreover, three VOCs [β-myrcene, limonene and (E)-β-ocimene] were associated to infestation status across all olive varieties. In choice-tests, B. oleae females always preferred the olfactory cues from low-infested over high-infested fruits. Therefore, choice-tests using synthetic VOCs, emitted in greater amount by high-infested fruit, were arranged in order to identify putative B. oleae kairomones. While females were indifferent to β-myrcene, the highest dosages of limonene and (E)-β-ocimene were unfavoured by the tested flies, which preferentially moved toward the empty arm of the Y-tube. Furthermore, females preferred the lowest concentration of β-ocimene compared to the highest one. These results supported our hypothesis that fruit VOCs may serve as kairomones for female flies.