BIOREpository (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade)
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Symmetry and Historicity in the Game of Life: Modifying Rules to Simulate Evolutionary Dynamics
No full textThe Game of Life (GoL) is a paradigmatic computer simulation that exhibits the emergence of complex properties of the whole from relatively simple sets of heuristic rules operating at lower organizational levels. Therefore, it is widely understood as a valuable tool for investigating global properties of evolutionary processes. Cognizant of refined concepts that emerged in recent debates on the central role of historical contingency (historicity) in evolution, we modify the original GoL rules by introducing an updating feedback loop and a probability factor that reflect the degree of historicity in pattern evolution as both stochastic path dependence and sensitivity to initial conditions. We examine this trait in simulations of the emergence and breaking of bilateral and radial symmetries commonly observed in the evolution of life, most prominently as evolving body plans. We show that the implementation of historicity parameters leads to a more realistic sequential and gradual alternating emergence and the breaking of new symmetries than the original set of rules. Apart from its more realistic representations of evolutionary processes, the new approach allows for easier exploration of the parameter space, demonstrates the sequential and gradual emergence and breaking of symmetries, and provides a publicly available and modular simulation tool. We discuss the exploratory potential of the modified GoL platform we designed as an extended thought experiment to study the parameter space defining the historicity of biological processes.M222.7102416
Echinococcus spp. circulating in livestock in Serbia
No full textThe echinococcosis case burden in the human population of Serbia is among the highest in Southeastern Europe, but comprehensive data on the circulating tapeworm species is scarce. To gain insight into the population genetics of Echinococcus spp. in Serbia, the project WORM_PROFILER will collect samples from livestock intended for human consumption at major abattoirs, slaughterhouses and homesteads over the next two years. During the first two months of sampling, 22 livers from pigs (n=15), lambs (n=5) and calves (n=2) with clearly identifiable cysts and/or cyst-like formations as well as scar tissue were collected from major abattoirs around the country. The cyst content and/or affected area was sampled by direct isolation using pipette tips and/or excision of the tissue and analyzed microscopically, followed by quick DNA extraction by boiling in 0.02 M NaOH for 15 min and amplification of the cox1 gene using primers which can differentiate E. granulosus, E. multilocularis and E. canadensis via conventional PCR. Several large cysts were present only in the liver of one boar. Tapeworm larvae were microscopically confirmed in the cysts’ content and later identified by PCR as E. granulosus. PCR analysis additionally revealed the presence of E. canadensis gDNA in a tissue sample from another pig from a different farm. Although these results indicate that most carcasses flagged for conditional use based on liver examination by abattoir veterinarians are not infected by Echinococcus spp., they nonetheless suggest that pigs may play an important role in its transmission in Serbia. Sequencing of the cox1 and nad1 genes from the samples in which Echinococcus spp. gDNA was detected is currently underway.M3470
Anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hydroxybenzoic ester derivatives: In silico insight and in vitro validation
No full textThis study explores the anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidant potential of 42 hydroxybenzoic acid esters and
three parent acids. Molecular docking simulations targeted key proteins involved in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
signaling pathway to identify lead compounds for synthesis and in vitro evaluation. Among the screened esters,
the most promising candidates demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable to vitamin C in ABTS and DPPH
assays. Additionally, these esters significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric
oxide (NO) in H2O2- and LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, indicating their ability to attenuate neuro-
inflammation. Further testing in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells exposed to microglia-derived supernatants confirmed
the neuroprotective effects of these esters, reducing microglia-mediated neurotoxicity. These results suggest that
hydroxybenzoic acid ester derivatives are promising candidates for mitigating microglia-driven neuro-
inflammation and protecting neurons, offering potential therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases.M224.01398041321202
Sustained Systemic Antioxidative Effects of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation beyond Neurodegeneration: Implications in Therapy in 6-Hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson’s Disease
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is manifested by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and caudoputamen (Cp), leading to the development of motor and non-motor symptoms. The contribution of oxidative stress to the development and progression of PD is increasingly recognized. Experimental models show that strengthening antioxidant defenses and reducing pro-oxidant status may have beneficial effects on disease progression. In this study, the neuroprotective potential of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is investigated in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD model in rats seven days after intoxication which corresponds to the occurrence of first motor symptoms. Two-month-old male Wistar rats were unilaterally injected with 6-OHDA to mimic PD pathology and were subsequently divided into two groups to receive either iTBS or sham stimulation for 21 days. The main oxidative parameters were analyzed in the caudoputamen, substantia nigra pars compacta, and serum. iTBS treatment notably mitigated oxidative stress indicators, simultaneously increasing antioxidative parameters in the caudoputamen and substantia nigra pars compacta well after 6-OHDA-induced neurodegeneration process was over. Serum analysis confirmed the systemic effect of iTBS with a decrease in oxidative markers and an increase in antioxidants. Prolonged iTBS exerts a modulatory effect on oxidative/antioxidant parameters in the 6-OHDA-induced PD model, suggesting a potential neuroprotective benefit, even though at this specific time point 6-OHDA-induced oxidative status was unaltered. These results emphasize the need to further explore the mechanisms of iTBS and argue in favor of considering it as a therapeutic intervention in PD and related neurodegenerative diseases.M21a7.021813
A novel thermostable YtnP lactonase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in vitro and in vivo
No full textInfections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens are one of the biggest challenges facing the healthcare system today. Quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes have the potential to be used as innovative enzyme-based antivirulence therapeutics to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. The main objective of this research was to describe the novel YtnP lactonase derived from the clinical isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and to investigate its antivirulence potential against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMA83. YtnP lactonase, the QQ enzyme, belongs to the family of metallo-β-lactamases. The recombinant enzyme has several advantageous biotechnological properties, such as high thermostability, activity in a wide pH range, and no cytotoxic effect. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the activity of recombinant YtnP lactonase toward a wide range of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), quorum sensing signaling molecules, with a higher preference for long-chain AHLs. Recombinant YtnP lactonase was shown to inhibit P. aeruginosa MMA83 biofilm formation, induce biofilm decomposition, and reduce extracellular virulence factors production. Moreover, the lifespan of MMA83-infected Caenorhabditis elegans was prolonged with YtnP lactonase treatment. YtnP lactonase showed synergistic inhibitory activity in combination with gentamicin and acted additively with meropenem against MMA83. The described properties make YtnP lactonase a promising therapeutic candidate for the development of next-generation antivirulence agents.M21a8.2130421264Pt
Longitudinal analysis of CTG repeat somatic instability in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients
No full textpp. 517–518M3
Antifungal activity of Trichoderma in the biological control of fungal phytopathogens, From biotechnology to human and planetary health
No full textp. 91M3
The response of diatom community to small hydropower plant and fish farm
No full textSome of the direct and indirect environmental impacts are related to the construction of fish farms (FFs) and small hydropower plants (SHPs) around the world. Diatom communities are one of the best bioindicators of various pressures like eutrophication, chemical and organic pollution. The main objective of this study was to examine the influence of SHP and FF on diatom community and water quality of the Prištavica River in Serbia. A total of 184 epilithic diatom taxa from 55 genera were identified. Sites after the FF and SHP are distinguished by the same dominant species in each season. Compared to the other sites, species diversity in summer was lower at site after SHP. In terms of spatial dynamics, four groups of taxa are distinguished. Some centric taxa were associated with sites downstream the FF and SHP. Altered physical and chemical parameters were documented at sites downstream of constructions. Water quality of the Prištavica River ranged from high to bad depending on diatom index, season, and sampling site. A greater difference in diatom index values was found at sites upstream and downstream of the FF, than at sites upstream and downstream of the SHP.M2346
Insights into the response of Miscanthus x giganteus to rhizobacteria: Enhancement of metal tolerance and root development under heavy metal stress
No full textThe use of bioenergy crops such as Miscanthus x giganteus in phytoremediation could have both environmental and economic benefits, such as biomass production and soil conservation for crops. In our previous work, we showed that rhizobacteria from the rhizosphere of M. x giganteus stimulated metal extraction and uptake and enhanced the phytoremediation ability of treated M. x giganteus. In the present study, we conducted transcriptome analysis and qPCR to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions in response to bacterial treatment by identifying the candidate genes involved in growth and development processes and metal uptake. Using high-throughput RNA sequencing of root samples, we found that 5134 and 4758 genes were up- and downregulated in plants treated with the rhizobacteria consortium. Gene ontology analysis showed that the upregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 32 terms, while the downregulated genes were significantly enriched in 63 terms. Our results confirmed the increased expression of two genes: the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion, also known as multi-antimicrobial extrusion (MATE) 40, known for its role in plant response to biotic and abiotic stress, and COBRA-like protein 1 belonging to the COBRA-like (COBL) gene family, which encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein involved in cell wall thickening, cell elongation, and biomass increase when compared to untreated plants. We present the first insight into a mechanism whereby the interaction between the rhizobacterial consortium and M. x giganteus fosters plant growth and enhances its capacity for phytoremediation.M230.814140