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Contribution of clinical factors and gut microbiota composition to weight loss in a pre-post dietary intervention pilot study in male children with obesity
No full textPurpose Childhood obesity is a global health problem that may be linked to changes in the gut microbiota. The aim of this
pilot study was to link the clinical parameters of children with obesity, who underwent a dietary intervention, with their gut
microbiota profiles to better understand the factors associated with weight loss.
Methods The study focused on 36 male children with obesity (aged 12–15 years) who were referred for treatment of primary
obesity. Personal medical history information was collected at enrollment. Body composition was assessed before and after
a three-week balanced hypocaloric diet with preserved nutritional value. Bacterial taxa were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene
amplicon sequencing. Linear regression models and machine learning algorithms were used to determine how subjects’
clinical factors and gut microbiota contribute to weight loss efficacy.
Results Results showed that higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae members (Blautia and Anaerostipes) prior to the diet
intervention, and later introduction of non-dairy food were positively related to weight loss efficacy, while higher abundance
of Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 and Faecalibacterium in the pre-diet samples was negatively correlated with BMI change.
The change in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidetes members between the pre- and post-diet samples was
negatively associated with delta BMI.
Conclusion The efficacy of weight loss in male children with obesity under dietary treatment is related to the composition of
the gut microbiota and the timing of the introduction of non-dairy food. Promoting beneficial gut bacteria could increase the
success of dietary treatment for weight loss and improve long-term health outcomes in children with obesity
Contribution of clinical factors and gut microbiota composition to weight loss in a pre-post dietary intervention pilot study in male children with obesity
No full textPurpose Childhood obesity is a global health problem that may be linked to changes in the gut microbiota. The aim of thispilot study was to link the clinical parameters of children with obesity, who underwent a dietary intervention, with their gutmicrobiota profiles to better understand the factors associated with weight loss.Methods The study focused on 36 male children with obesity (aged 12–15 years) who were referred for treatment of primaryobesity. Personal medical history information was collected at enrollment. Body composition was assessed before and aftera three-week balanced hypocaloric diet with preserved nutritional value. Bacterial taxa were analyzed by 16S rRNA geneamplicon sequencing. Linear regression models and machine learning algorithms were used to determine how subjects’clinical factors and gut microbiota contribute to weight loss efficacy.Results Results showed that higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae members (Blautia and Anaerostipes) prior to the dietintervention, and later introduction of non-dairy food were positively related to weight loss efficacy, while higher abundanceof Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003 and Faecalibacterium in the pre-diet samples was negatively correlated with BMI change.The change in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidetes members between the pre- and post-diet samples wasnegatively associated with delta BMI.Conclusion The efficacy of weight loss in male children with obesity under dietary treatment is related to the composition ofthe gut microbiota and the timing of the introduction of non-dairy food. Promoting beneficial gut bacteria could increase thesuccess of dietary treatment for weight loss and improve long-term health outcomes in children with obesity.This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-025-02672-8
The impact of co-fed plastic diet on Tenebrio molitor gut bacterial community structure
No full textThis study aimed to analyze the long-term impact of co-fed plastic diet on the bacterial community of self-sustaining laboratory populations of T. molitor fed with wheat bran with added polystyrene (PS), and low density polyethylene (LDPE) over a three year period. The most abundant phyla for all three populations were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria. PS group microbiota is similar to C group, pointing to a common bacterial species capable for degrading lignocellulose and PS, while consumption of LDPE caused a significant decrease of Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota compared to both C and PS group, and Campylobacterota compared to PS group. A predictive metabolomics analysis recognized dTDP-L-rhamnose biosynthesis I in PS group as one of five unique pathways, while other five distinctive pathways, like peptidoglycan maturation, were linked to LDPE group. Further studies are needed to determine the plastic degrading properties of the detected bacteria. The results highlight T. molitor’s versatility in biotechnological applications
Biocontrol Potential of Native Trichoderma Strains Toward Soil-Borne Phytopathogenic and Saprotrophic Fungi
No full textThe potential of Trichoderma fungi as biocontrol agents has not yet been fully explored, as there is a large repertoire of inter- and intra-species variation in their phytopathogenic antagonistic effects due to different adaptations of individual Trichoderma strains. In the present study, we investigated the biocontrol efficacy of eight native isolates of Trichoderma spp. against the soilborne phytopathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani and a representative of the Mucoromycota, Phycomyces blakesleeanus. An in vitro dual culture test showed a complete (100%) inhibition of S. sclerotiorum and P. blakesleeanus by each tested Trichoderma strain and a high (80–100%) inhibition of R. solani. The crude chloroform extracts, whose peptide contents were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, caused a concentration-dependent reduction in the growth of the target fungi, with inhibition comparable to the effect of the peptaibol standard alamethicin. Despite the differences between fungi from the phyla Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mucoromycota, their inhibition by alamethicin followed the same dose–response dependence. The growth inhibition of P. blakesleeanus induced by Trichoderma extracts was characterized by a significantly increased activity of antioxidative defense enzymes. Both variants of biocontrol agents, the native strains of Trichoderma spp. and their extracts, are efficient in controlling fungal growth and should be considered for the development of new potent bioformulations applicable in agriculture
Continent-wide differentiation of fitness traits and patterns of climate adaptation among European populations of Drosophila melanogaster
No full textA particularly well-studied evolutionary model is the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster, a cosmopolitan insect of ancestral southern-central African origin. Recent work suggests that it expanded out of Africa ∼9,000 years ago, and spread from the Middle East into Europe ∼1,800 years ago. During its global expansion, this human commensal adapted to novel climate zones and habitats. Despite much work on phenotypic differentiation and adaptation on several continents (especially North America and Australia), typically in the context of latitudinal clines, little is known about phenotypic divergence among European populations. Here, we sought to provide a continent-wide study of phenotypic differentiation among European populations of D. melanogaster. In a consortium-wide phenomics effort, we assayed 16 fitness-related traits on a panel of 173 isofemale lines from 9 European populations, with the majority of traits measured by several groups using semi-standardized protocols. For most fitness-related traits, we found significant differentiation among populations on a continental scale. Despite inevitable differences in assay conditions among labs, the reproducibility and hence robustness of our measurements were overall remarkably good. Several fitness components (e.g., viability, development time) exhibited significant latitudinal or longitudinal clines, and populations differed markedly in multivariate trait structure. Notably, populations experiencing higher humidity/rainfall and lower maximum temperature showed higher viability, fertility, starvation resistance, and lifespan at the expense of lower heat-shock survival, suggesting a pattern of local adaptation. Our results indicate that derived populations of this tropical fly have been shaped by pervasive spatially varying multivariate selection and adaptation to different climates on the European continent
The edaphic factor and orchids: Gymnadenia conopsea from contrasting geologies in the Central Balkans
No full textEdaphic stress is one of the main factors affecting plant fitness, but it is still poorly understood, even in rare plants such as orchids. Gymnadenia conopsea is a terrestrial orchid that grows on different geological substrates, making it a model species for the study of adaptive responses to edaphic factors, including metals in soil. The samples of plant tissues of G. conopsea growing on carbonate, ultramafic and siliceous substrates in Serbia and the associated rhizosphere soil were collected and analysed for elemental concentrations. Two different strategies for the distribution of macro- and trace elements were found, corresponding to the trend generally observed in orchids. Trace elements (As, B, Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, and Ni) remain mainly in the underground organs and only a small proportion is transferred to the shoots. It was the opposite for the macroelements (Ca, Mg, K and P) with the highest accumulation occurred in the leaves and inflorescences. The tolerance of G. conopsea to the different geological substrates results from the moderate metal concentrations in the soils analysed and the exclusion strategy of the species, which is the most common response to metal induced stress in orchids
Via Air or Rhizosphere: The Phytotoxicity of Nepeta Essential Oils and Malus Dihydrochalcones
No full textMany specialized metabolites found in plants have significant potential for developing
environmentally friendly weed management solutions. This review focuses on the
phytotoxic effects of volatile terpenes and phenolic compounds, particularly nepetalactone,
an iridoid monoterpenoid from Nepeta species, and phloretin, a dihydrochalcone predominantly
found in the genus Malus. We highlight current findings on their herbicidal effects,
including morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses in target plants. These
results underscore their potential for developing sustainable herbicides that could control
weeds with minimal environmental impact. We also discuss their soil persistence and
methods to enhance their solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability. Additionally, the
possible effects on non-target organisms, such as pollinators, non-pollinating insects, and
soil microbiota, are considered. However, further research and a deeper understanding of
their long-term ecological impact, along with a resistance development risk assessment, is
essential for the potential development of bioherbicides that could be applied in sustainable
weed management practices
Unlocking Demography: Developing an eDNA-Based Toolkitto Measure Sex Ratios From Populations
No full textDemographic information, such as sex ratios, is essential for understanding population dynamics and informing conservationstrategies. Yet obtaining sex ratios in natural populations can be challenging due to logistical, ethical and legal constraints.Environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionised non-invasive biodiversity monitoring, but its potential for assessing demographicparameters remains largely unexplored. Here we present an eDNA-based method to monitor sex ratios of populations by quan-tifying sex-specific SNP alleles. Using RADseq data from Balkan crested newts (Triturus ivanbureschi), we identified a male-specific allele that was consistently present in all males and absent in females. We then developed a Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR)assay to quantify allele ratios and validated it on mock (DNA extract mixtures) and eDNA samples with known sex ratios. Oursex-specific SNP assay successfully distinguished male- and female-biassed ratios in mock samples and showed a strong positiverelationship between the proportion of males and the male-specific allele. While resolution was lower in eDNA samples, sex ratioestimates reflected population composition, particularly when corrected for biomass. Performance was mainly influenced byinter-individual variation in male allele copy numbers, but this effect diminished as the number of males increased, reflectingnatural populations better. For effective field application, maximising nuclear eDNA recovery, validating marker specificity and accounting for species-specific life history traits when sampling will be crucial. With further field validation, our eDNA-basedmethod could support large-scale, non-invasive sex ratio monitoring, offering valuable insights into species phenology and population dynamics to guide conservation efforts
Sisari i zagađenje sredine - uticaj litijuma (Li), aresena (As) i bora (B)
No full textSitni sisari imaju kratak životni vek, brojna legla i naseljavaju sve sredine, pa su idealni za praćenje zagađenja životne sredine. • Uništavanje i parčanje staništa sitnih sisara smanjuje genetički diverzitet vrsta i ugrožava njihov opstanak. • Polutanti izazivaju oštećenja DNK, ali i oštećenja tkiva i organa kako kod jedinki koje se tek razvijaju tako i kod odraslih jedinki. • Sadržaj teških metala u tkivima domaćih sisara i divljači služi kao bioindikator za pružanje podataka o njihovom prisustvu u ekosistemima. • Litijum (Li) i arsen (As) mogu se akumulirati u organizmima životinja, a kroz lanac ishrane i ljudi. U visokim koncentracijama izazivaju ozbiljne zdravstvene probleme. • Bor (B) ima širok spektar pozitivnih fizioloških uticaja na biološke sisteme sisara pri niskim nivoima, a toksičan je kada mu je koncentracija u tkivima i krvi visokog nivoa.Kataranovski M, Rakić T, Paunović E, Simonović P, editors. Projekat Jadar - mogući štetni uticaji na živi svet i zdravlje čoveka. Beograd: Univerzitet u Beogradu, Biološki fakultet; 2025. p. 154-72
Genetic and chemical diversity of nepeta species in the central balkans
No full textAim: The aim of the present study was to determine sources of genetic and chemical diversity in Nepeta nuda L., N. cataria L., and Serbian stenoendemic N. rtanjensis Diklić & Milojević at the inter- and intra-population levels, towards prioritizing the genotypes/chemotypes for further conservation.
Material and methods: Leaf samples were collected from the natural Central Balkans populations. Chemical diversity was assessed from both methanol extracts and essential oils through untargeted and targeted metabolomics using LC/MS and GC/MS instruments. Genetic diversity was evaluated based on two genomic (SSRs) and seven genic (EST-SSRs) microsatellite markers.
Main results: N. rtanjensis and N. cataria were recognized as high-productive species in words of nepetalactone-type iridoids, while N. nuda produced significantly lower amounts of these compounds. Genetical and chemical diversity of N. nuda primarily resides within populations, implying that metabolomic profiles may be less influenced by geographic distance and variable environmental conditions. Conversely, the analysed populations of N. rtanjensis and N. cataria were small containing nearly clonal individuals, regardless of the geographical distance among the populations.
Conclusion: The results of the present study point to the urgency for the adequate conservation measures in the case of N. rtanjensis and N. cataria, which display a disturbingly low level of genetic variations across the Central Balkans. Protective measures should rely on novel molecular markers and analysis of more populations as well as on re-examining the growth performance, reproductive strategies, and phytochemical characteristics in variable environments.Program and abstracts : International Seminar of Ecology - 2025 : Modern Ecology - Theoretical and Applied View; 2025 Sep 25-26; Sofia, Bulgaria. Farrago; 2025. p. 24-5