Periodicum Biologorum

Effects of UV radiation on human skin and its microbiota: a review on microbial UV sunscreens

Neshalini Sathiabalan — 2024-06-19

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the culprit for molecular and genetic changes that occur to the skin. This effect can be direct or indirect through the generation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals. So, it is important to find potential molecules that can reduce both effects. In this review, we explored the contributions of microbial-originated UV sunscreens, particularly by mycosporines and mycosporines-like amino acids (MAA). These natural molecules are capable UV ray absorbers and antioxidant health protectors, given that they are eco-friendly, have strong photostability and are non-toxic. Furthermore, microorganisms are known for producing their compounds to survive harsh environments which in turn is beneficial to humans too. The reason behind it is the reduction of production cost as it has a simple growth culture and useful genetic manipulation. Thus, the knowledge regarding the synthesis pathway and therapeutic advantages of mycosporines of microbial origin is essential to be improved. Currently, only mycosporines production of marine life have been investigated, the remaining are unclear. We aimed to search more into the impacts of UV radiation on human skin and its microbiota and the microbial-based approaches to counter UV-induced damages.

Long term succession of engineering species Gongolaria barbata (Stackhouse) Kuntze (Fucales: Ochrophyta) along the Romanian Black Sea coast

Oana Alina Marin — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: Cystoseira sensu lato are of great interest due to their primary role in maintaining high biodiversity and the functioning of rocky habitats, and as provider of crucial ecosystem services. Conspicuous historical declines have been reported in many regions, Romanian Black Sea coast included. Gongolaria barbata (Stackhouse) Kuntze (Fucales: Ochrophyta) is the only remaining representative of Cystoseira s. l. along the Romanian coast and currently the most important habitat-forming species, with extended to patchy canopies in the southern rocky coasts. To better understand the status of such ecological important species, we analyse and compare the succession of Gongolaria infralittoral populations during reference (60s), decline (70s) and more recent period (2009 – 2022), based on an extensive literature review (historical quantitative data) and recent information from annual monitoring program.

Material and methods: Quadrats (20 × 20 cm) were used for sampling both in the past and present, with a total number of 144 samples collected between 2009 – 2022. Both historical and recent data were statistically analysed using non – parametric tests due to the absence in normality and homogeneity of data sets.

Results: Following sea ice from 1972 and violent storms as the main drivers of local Gongolaria decline, out of the thirteen known development areas from the reference period, nowadays only five are left. However, recent wet biomass and density values are appropriate to those of the reference period (1962 – 1971) and much higher compared to the maximum decline period (1972 – 1979).

Conclusions: G. barbata has been in a fragile balance along the Romanian coast in the last decade, highly sensitive in front of increasingly anthropogenic activities.

Invading the North: Dispersal of Nearctic treehopper Stictocephala bisonia (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Membracidae) in European Russia

Alexander B. Ruchin — 2024-06-19

In recent years, the problem of distribution and expansion of new territories by invasive species has become global. The publication analyses the current distribution of Nearctic treehopper Stictocephala bisonia in the European part of Russia. It is a North American species which was introduced into Europe over 100 years ago, but only in the last 20-30 years has it been actively spreading in the continent. In the European part of Russia, the Nearctic treehopper has been known since 1992 from the Rostov region and since 1996 from the Krasnodar Krai. At present the species is reliably registered in 26 regions. The major part of observations (185, 82.2%) is made in the period from 2020 to 2022. Currently, the northern border of distribution is the city of Nizhny Novgorod. In the northeast, the range of the species reaches the Republic of Tatarstan, to the east of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Republic of Bashkortostan, the hopper has not yet been observed. Imagoes are observed in the southern regions beginning in the third decade of June. The maximum number of observations falls on the second and third decade of July and August.

Occurrence of Serratia marcescens on macrofungi in Hungary

Dominik Dredor — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: The main objective of this paper is to report the occurrence of Serratia marcescens (Bizio, 1823), a bacterium on macrofungi and review the data of other collectors in Hungary.

Materials and methods: Our mycological research was conducted in ten localities of the North Hungarian Mountain Ranges and in one sampling site of Mezőföld between 2019-2022.

Results: Infection of S. marcescens was recorded on fourteen fungal species in northern Hungary. In addition, we reported 18 occurrence data of this bacterium by other collectors of Hungary. The infection of S. marcescens was highest in autumn. The most abundant infected fungal species was the edible and marketable Lepista personata (Fr.) Cooke, 1871. We identified the most fungal species as substrate in the family Agaricaceae.

Conclusions: We conclude that the infection of S. marcescens of macrofungi was detected independently of life mode and habitat occupied of fungi. However, the seasons influenced the occupancy of this species to varying degrees.

Screening the antimicrobial, cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of skin-parotoid gland secretions of 13 taxa from six species and one hybrid population of Anatolian endemic Lycian salamanders (Genus: Lyciasalamandra)

Mert Kariş — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: The diverse bioactive content in the skin and parotoid glands of amphibians makes them unique and highly potential sources for pharmacological developments. The main aim of the study is to determine the total protein amounts, in vitro cytotoxicities, antimicrobial activities and hemolytic effects of skin-parotoid secretions of these endemic Lycian salamanders (Genus: Lyciasalamandra).

Materials and methods: Lycian salamander specimens of 13 taxa from six species and one hybrid population are collected from southwestern Anatolia. Skin-parotoid secretions were obtained, clarified, supernatants snapfrozen then lyophilized. Total protein amounts were determined by BCA assay kit. The cytotoxicity was determined on eight different cell lines (one healthy and seven cancerous) using MTT assay. The antimicrobial activity was assesed using 11 different microorganisms (nine bacteria and two yeast) from six genus by MIC method. Hemolytic effects were measured on rabbit red blood cells.

Results: Lycian salamanders’ skin-parotoid gland secretions showed variable cytotoxic effects on all cell lines with IC50 values from 5.41 ± 0.17 μg/ml to ineffective. MIC results of antimicrobial activity tests were also variable and from 3.9 μg/mL to non-effective. Studied skin-parotoid secretions have no hemolytic activities on rabbit red blood cells at concentrations of 0.5, 5 and 50 μg/mL.

Conclusions: Skin-parotoid gland secretions of Anatolian endemic Lycian salamanders have sufficient and remarkable therapeutic potential to be candidate sources of natural and biologically active substances for novel drug discoveries.

Sex-Related Differences in Oxidant and Antioxidant Profiles of Murine Kidney and Brain: A Focus on Sirt3-Mediated Regulation

Robert Belužić — 2024-06-19

Background: Sirt3 is a mitochondrial deacetylase with an important role in maintainance of cellular redox and metabolic homeostasis and mitochondrial function. As growing evidence support the existence of sex-specific responses to metabolic and oxidative stress, we aimed to investigate sex- and organ-specific effects of Sirt3 loss.

Materials and methods: Expression of Sirt3, PGC-1a, CuZnSOD, MnSOD and Cat proteins in kidneys and brains of Sirt3-wild type (Sirt3 WT) and Sirt3-knockout (Sirt3 KO) mice was assessed by Western blotting. Protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation levels were measured using ELISA and fluorometric assays, respectively. SOD and Cat activities were determined using standard enzymatic assays.

Results: Significant sex- and organ- specific differences in response to Sirt3 loss were detected. Sirt3 knockout affected kidneys more than brain tissue, with females showing lower levels PC and LPO. In kidneys, female KO showed higher MnSOD, but lower CuZnSOD and Cat activity compared to males. In brains, WT females show higher activities of these enzymes than males, suggesting a sex-specific protection mechanism, but female KO brains show a larger decrease in these parameters.

Conclusion: Our study provides comprehensive insights into the complex interplay of Sirt3, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defenses in murine kidney and brain. The observed differences between the two organs and the impact of sex highlight the need for studying Sirt3 function in diverse physiological contexts. The tissue-specific responses and sex-related variations underscore the importance of considering these factors in the development of therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial function and redox homeostasis.

Changes in apoptosis and adipokine biomarkers in the heart tissue of rats with experimental hyperthyroidism

Gözde Ati̇la Uslu — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hyperthyroidism on heart tissue through adipokines and apoptotic signalling pathways.

Materials and Methods: A total of 14 Sprague-Dawley male rats were assigned to 2 groups, a control and a hyperthyroid group. The control group received 0.9% NaCl, while the hyperthyroid group received 1 mg/kg levothyroxine dissolved in 0.9% NaCl throughout the study. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels in serum samples, whereas fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), adiponectin, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and tumour protein 53 (p53) levels in heart tissue were determined by ELISA method.

Results: Serum TSH level decreased (p<0.01) while the level of FT4 significantly (p<0.01) increased in the hyperthyroid group compared to the control group. The level of adiponectin in the cardiac tissue of levothyroxinetreated rats was found to be significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.01). Additionally, compared to the control group, the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 level increased (p<0.05) while the proapoptotic p53 level decreased in the hyperthyroid group (p<0.01).

Conclusions: In this study, the effects of hyperthyroidism on hormone levels, which are important regulators of energy and metabolic homeostasis, and changes in apoptosis markers were revealed in heart tissue. We consider that apoptosis was potentially prevented by activating mechanisms in order to protect cardiac functions in the beginning, but this scene may be reversed in progressive hyperthyroidism cases. Therefore, their pathways need to be supported by more detailed and time-compared studies.

Increased mRNA expression of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of psoriasis patients developed psoriatic arthritis

Sevgi Irtegun-Kandemir — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis (PsO) affecting both skin and joint. ADAMTS (A disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase domain with thrombospondin-1 repeats) is a large family of proteoglycanase enzymes and the expression levels of ADAMTS proteases are upregulated in arthritis. In this study, we aimed to determine mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 and identifying the key signaling pathways involved in the regulation of these proteases in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with PsO who later developed PsA.

Materials and methods: 25 PsA patients, 25 PsO patients and 25 healthy individuals were included in this study. PBMCs were isolated from venous blood and mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 were measured through Real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR).

Results: mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 were found to be increased in PsA patients compared with control and PsO patients. In response to TNF-a stimulation, the expression of ADAMTS1 in PsA patients was determined to be reduced in a Erk1/2 activity dependent manner, whereas p38 and JNK activities were shown to induce the expression of ADAMTS4 in PsA patients. The reduced ADAMTS1 expression in PsA patients induced by IL-1b stimulation was revealed to be dependent on NFkB activity.

Conclusions: mRNA expressions of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 regulated by MAPKs and NFkB were increased in PBMCs of PsA patients. This study supports the hypothesis that ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 mRNA level might be diagnostic markers for identifying psoriatic patients who are more likely to develop PsA and a future drug target for PsA treatment.

Increased number of ruptured aortic aneurysms during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Josip Figl — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: The aim of the study was to verify whether ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic or Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination has any influence on established increased number of ruptured aortic aneurysms (RAA) during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (years 2020-2021) regarding two-year of pre-pandemic period (2018-2019).

Materials and methods: Medical records of patients treated for the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) by surgical or endovascular reconstruction at the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Center Zagreb, between 2018 and 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, while numerical variables were analyzed using Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, depending on the normality of the distribution.

Results: The analysis revealed an increase in number of RAAAs by 55.56% in pandemic time (28 versus 18 in pre-pandemic years), decrease in their 30-day mortality by 18.65 % (53.57% vs. 72.22% respectively) and decrease in outpatient examinations during pandemic by 13.82%, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: No statistically significant relation between SARS-CoV-2 pandemic or the COVID-19 vaccination and the number of treated RAAAs could be established. History of COVID-19 positivity or vaccination were not associated with RAAA outcome. The increase of RAAAs in pandemic along with decrease of its 30-day mortality compared to pre-pandemic time suggests patients’ hesitance to go to elective surgery and avoidance of regular check-ups in the hospitals, where lots of patients with SARS-CoV-2 are presumed to be concentrated, since hospital service policy and protocols remained the same. The patients were never directly asked to answer this question, so even if the fear of getting SARS-CoV-2 infection remains the most plausible answer, it should be verified by an independent survey.

Frontal alpha asymmetries and behavioral immune system: moderating role of behavioral inhibition system

Ivana Hromatko — 2024-06-19

Background and purpose: Behavioral immune system is a cluster of psychological mechanisms enabling detection and avoidance of pathogens in one’s immediate environment. Its presumed activation has been implicated in myriads of psychological phenomena, stemming from pathogen related disgust to more complex behaviors, such as mate choice and xenophobic cognitions. However, little is known about its biological underpinnings. The aim of this preliminary study was twofold: 1) to explore the role of another neuropsychological system governing avoidant motivations, the behavioral inhibition system, in pathogen-induced disgust and 2) to determine if frontal hemispheric asymmetries (a neural correlate of avoidant motivations) might serve as indicators of behavioral immune system activation.

Materials and methods: 62 participants completed the Behavioral inhibition scale. Based on their z-scores, two extreme groups were formed: high (n=9) and low behavioral inhibition (n=9) group. After the baseline EEG recordings, participants were exposed to a set of neutral stimuli, followed by a set of pathogen disgust inducing stimuli. The frontal asymmetry (FAA) indexes (lnR-LnL) were calculated within both low (8-10 Hz) and high (11-13 Hz) alpha frequency bands on analogue pairs of frontal electrodes.

Results: There were no baseline FAA differences between groups. However, compared to low behavioral inhibition group, high behavioral inhibition group showed larger shifts in FAA on frontopolar locations while watching the pathogen related disgust-inducing stimuli, as compared to neutral photographs.

Conclusions: This pattern of FAA shifts suggests that high behavioral inhibition individuals attend to pathogen threat related cues more readily, i.e., have a more reactive behavioral immune system. With this preliminary study we are proposing a new line of research in order to determine if there is evidence of a calibrated response in terms of interplay between one’s immune status and pathogen treat related neural reactivity.