PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: A novel birnavirus identified as the causative agent of summer atrophy of pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata (Gould))
items: Assessing the impact of two conventional wastewater treatment plants on small streams with effect-based methods
items: Aerobic exercise improves verbal working memory sub-processes in adolescents: behavioral evidence from an N-back task
items: Ecological niche divergence or ecological niche partitioning in a widespread Neotropical bird lineage
items: Three new species of free-living marine nematodes of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) from the continental shelf off northeastern Brazil (Atlantic Ocean)
items: Genome-wide analysis of bZIP transcription factors and their expression patterns in response to methyl jasmonate and low-temperature stresses in Platycodon grandiflorus
items: Bacterial community profiles within the water samples of leptospirosis outbreak areas
items: Italian adaptation of the Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS)
items: Assessing dietary specialization to inform the conservation of the fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), an endangered vermivore
items: Alpha lipoic acid mitigates adverse impacts of drought stress on growth and yield of mungbean: photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidative defense mechanism

A novel birnavirus identified as the causative agent of summer atrophy of pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata (Gould))
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Akoya pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata (Gould)) is the most important species for pearl cultivation in Japan. Mass mortality of 0-year-old juvenile oysters and anomalies in adults, known as summer atrophy, have been observed in major pearl farming areas during the season when seawater temperatures exceed about 20 °C since 2019. In this study, we identified a novel birnavirus as the pathogen of summer atrophy and named it Pinctada birnavirus (PiBV). PiBV was first presumed to be the causative agent when it was detected specifically and frequently in the infected oysters in a comparative metatranscriptomics of experimentally infected and healthy pearl oysters. Subsequently, the symptoms of summer atrophy were reproduced by infection tests using purified PiBV. Infection of juvenile oysters with PiBV resulted in an increase in the PiBV genome followed by the atrophy of soft body and subsequent mortality. Immunostaining with a mouse antiserum against a recombinant PiBV protein showed that the virus antigen was localized mainly in the epithelial cells on the outer surface of the mantle. Although the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood method placed PiBV at the root of the genus Entomobirnavirus, the identity of the bi-segmented, genomic RNA to that of known birnaviruses at the full-length amino acid level was low, suggesting that PiBV forms a new genus. The discovery of PiBV will be the basis for research to control this emerging disease.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tomomasa Matsuyama
creator: Satoshi Miwa
creator: Tohru Mekata
creator: Ikunari Kiryu
creator: Isao Kuriyama
creator: Takashi Atsumi
creator: Tomokazu Itano
creator: Hidemasa Kawakami
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Virology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Pathology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17321
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Matsuyama et al.
abstract: The Akoya pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata (Gould)) is the most important species for pearl cultivation in Japan. Mass mortality of 0-year-old juvenile oysters and anomalies in adults, known as summer atrophy, have been observed in major pearl farming areas during the season when seawater temperatures exceed about 20 °C since 2019. In this study, we identified a novel birnavirus as the pathogen of summer atrophy and named it Pinctada birnavirus (PiBV). PiBV was first presumed to be the causative agent when it was detected specifically and frequently in the infected oysters in a comparative metatranscriptomics of experimentally infected and healthy pearl oysters. Subsequently, the symptoms of summer atrophy were reproduced by infection tests using purified PiBV. Infection of juvenile oysters with PiBV resulted in an increase in the PiBV genome followed by the atrophy of soft body and subsequent mortality. Immunostaining with a mouse antiserum against a recombinant PiBV protein showed that the virus antigen was localized mainly in the epithelial cells on the outer surface of the mantle. Although the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood method placed PiBV at the root of the genus Entomobirnavirus, the identity of the bi-segmented, genomic RNA to that of known birnaviruses at the full-length amino acid level was low, suggesting that PiBV forms a new genus. The discovery of PiBV will be the basis for research to control this emerging disease.
bibliographic citation: Matsuyama et al. (2024) A novel birnavirus identified as the causative agent of summer atrophy of pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata (Gould)). PeerJ 12:e17321 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17321
date submitted: 2024-01-19
date accepted: 2024-04-09
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Matsuyama
  given name: Tomomasa
author list: Agent
  family name: Miwa
  given name: Satoshi
author list: Agent
  family name: Mekata
  given name: Tohru
author list: Agent
  family name: Kiryu
  given name: Ikunari
author list: Agent
  family name: Kuriyama
  given name: Isao
author list: Agent
  family name: Atsumi
  given name: Takashi
author list: Agent
  family name: Itano
  given name: Tomokazu
author list: Agent
  family name: Kawakami
  given name: Hidemasa
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17321
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: © 2024 Matsuyama et al.
attribution name: Matsuyama et al.

Assessing the impact of two conventional wastewater treatment plants on small streams with effect-based methods
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Sixty percent of discrete surface water bodies in Europe do not meet the requirements for good ecological and chemical status and in Germany, the situation is even worse with over 90% of surface water bodies failing to meet the threshold. In addition to hydromorphological degradation, intensive land use and invasive species, chemical pollution is primarily considered to be responsible for the inadequate ecological status of the water bodies. As a quantitatively important source of micropollutants, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent an important entry path for chemical stressors. It is therefore important to analyze the effectiveness of the WWTPs in eliminating micropollutants and other chemical stressors to mitigate the negative impacts of the treated wastewater (WW) in aquatic ecosystems. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the impacts of two conventional, medium-sized WWTPs on their small receiving water systems in the southwestern region of Hessen in Germany during two sampling campaigns (spring and fall) using effect-based methods (EBM). We hypothesized that due to the insufficient elimination of micropollutants, a broad spectrum of toxic effects would be detected in conventionally treated WW and also in the receiving surface waters downstream the WWTPs. As EBMs a battery of in vitro assays and active biomonitoring using two in vivo assays were applied. The results supported our hypothesis and showed that the untreated WW had a very high baseline toxicity and also high endocrine and mutagenic activities. Conventional WW treatment, consisting of mechanical and biological treatment with nitrification, denitrification and phosphate precipitation, reduced baseline toxicity by more than 90% and endocrine activities by more than 80% in both WWTPs. Despite these high elimination rates, the remaining baseline toxicity, the endocrine, dioxin-like and mutagenic activities of the conventionally treated WW were so high that negative effects on the two receiv…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Catalina Trejos Delgado
creator: Andrea Dombrowski
creator: Jörg Oehlmann
subject: Ecotoxicology
subject: Freshwater Biology
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17326
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Trejos Delgado et al.
abstract: Sixty percent of discrete surface water bodies in Europe do not meet the requirements for good ecological and chemical status and in Germany, the situation is even worse with over 90% of surface water bodies failing to meet the threshold. In addition to hydromorphological degradation, intensive land use and invasive species, chemical pollution is primarily considered to be responsible for the inadequate ecological status of the water bodies. As a quantitatively important source of micropollutants, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent an important entry path for chemical stressors. It is therefore important to analyze the effectiveness of the WWTPs in eliminating micropollutants and other chemical stressors to mitigate the negative impacts of the treated wastewater (WW) in aquatic ecosystems. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the impacts of two conventional, medium-sized WWTPs on their small receiving water systems in the southwestern region of Hessen in Germany during two sampling campaigns (spring and fall) using effect-based methods (EBM). We hypothesized that due to the insufficient elimination of micropollutants, a broad spectrum of toxic effects would be detected in conventionally treated WW and also in the receiving surface waters downstream the WWTPs. As EBMs a battery of in vitro assays and active biomonitoring using two in vivo assays were applied. The results supported our hypothesis and showed that the untreated WW had a very high baseline toxicity and also high endocrine and mutagenic activities. Conventional WW treatment, consisting of mechanical and biological treatment with nitrification, denitrification and phosphate precipitation, reduced baseline toxicity by more than 90% and endocrine activities by more than 80% in both WWTPs. Despite these high elimination rates, the remaining baseline toxicity, the endocrine, dioxin-like and mutagenic activities of the conventionally treated WW were so high that negative effects on the two receiv…
bibliographic citation: Trejos Delgado et al. (2024) Assessing the impact of two conventional wastewater treatment plants on small streams with effect-based methods. PeerJ 12:e17326 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17326
date submitted: 2023-11-07
date accepted: 2024-04-11
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Trejos Delgado
  given name: Catalina
author list: Agent
  family name: Dombrowski
  given name: Andrea
author list: Agent
  family name: Oehlmann
  given name: Jörg
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17326
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: ©2024 Trejos Delgado et al.
attribution name: Trejos Delgado et al.

Aerobic exercise improves verbal working memory sub-processes in adolescents: behavioral evidence from an N-back task
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Studies on the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory (WM) have mainly concentrated on the overall effects, yet there is little knowledge on how moderate intensity aerobic exercise impacts the sub-processes of verbal WM (VWM) in adolescents. To address this gap, two experiments were conducted to explore the influence of aerobic exercise on the maintenance and updating sub-processes of VWM. Methods In Experiment 1, a mixed experimental design of 2 (exercise habit: high vs. low) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) was used to compare VWM and its sub-processes in 40 adolescents. In Experiment 2, a 2 (group: intervention vs. control) × 3 (time point: pretest vs. 1st post-test vs. 18th post-test) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) mixed experimental design was used to investigate the acute and long-term effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on VWM and its sub-processes in 24 adolescents with low exercise habits. Results The results of Experiment 1 showed that VWM performance and its sub-processes in the high exercise habit group were better than those in the low exercise habit group. The results of Experiment 2 showed that the effects of the long-term exercise intervention were superior to those of the acute exercise intervention, and both were superior to the pretest. Meanwhile, it was found that aerobic exercise intervention had a greater effect size on the updating sub-process of VWM. Conclusion In conclusion, the results indicated that moderate intensity aerobic exercise could enhance the performance of VWM and its sub-processes in adolescents, and long-term intervention showed greater improvement effects compared to acute intervention, especially in the updating sub-process of VWM.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yue Li
creator: Fei Wang
creator: Jingfan Li
creator: Xing Huo
creator: Yin Zhang
subject: Cognitive Disorders
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17331
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Li et al.
abstract: Background Studies on the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory (WM) have mainly concentrated on the overall effects, yet there is little knowledge on how moderate intensity aerobic exercise impacts the sub-processes of verbal WM (VWM) in adolescents. To address this gap, two experiments were conducted to explore the influence of aerobic exercise on the maintenance and updating sub-processes of VWM. Methods In Experiment 1, a mixed experimental design of 2 (exercise habit: high vs. low) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) was used to compare VWM and its sub-processes in 40 adolescents. In Experiment 2, a 2 (group: intervention vs. control) × 3 (time point: pretest vs. 1st post-test vs. 18th post-test) × 3 (memory load: 0-back vs. 1-back vs. 2-back) mixed experimental design was used to investigate the acute and long-term effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on VWM and its sub-processes in 24 adolescents with low exercise habits. Results The results of Experiment 1 showed that VWM performance and its sub-processes in the high exercise habit group were better than those in the low exercise habit group. The results of Experiment 2 showed that the effects of the long-term exercise intervention were superior to those of the acute exercise intervention, and both were superior to the pretest. Meanwhile, it was found that aerobic exercise intervention had a greater effect size on the updating sub-process of VWM. Conclusion In conclusion, the results indicated that moderate intensity aerobic exercise could enhance the performance of VWM and its sub-processes in adolescents, and long-term intervention showed greater improvement effects compared to acute intervention, especially in the updating sub-process of VWM.
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2024) Aerobic exercise improves verbal working memory sub-processes in adolescents: behavioral evidence from an N-back task. PeerJ 12:e17331 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17331
date submitted: 2023-10-02
date accepted: 2024-04-11
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yue
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Fei
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jingfan
author list: Agent
  family name: Huo
  given name: Xing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17331
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: © 2024 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

Ecological niche divergence or ecological niche partitioning in a widespread Neotropical bird lineage
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Ecological niche divergence is generally considered to be a facet of evolution that may accompany geographic isolation and diversification in allopatry, contributing to species’ evolutionary distinctiveness through time. The null expectation for any two diverging species in geographic isolation is that of niche conservatism, wherein populations do not rapidly shift to or adapt to novel environments. Here, I test ecological niche divergence for a widespread, pan-American lineage, the avian genus of martins (Progne). The genus Progne includes migrant and resident species, as well as geographically restricted taxa and widespread, intercontinentally distributed taxa, thus providing an ideal group in which to study the nature of niche divergence within a broad geographic mosaic. I obtained distributional information for the genus from publicly available databases and created ecological niche models for each species to create pairwise comparisons of environmental space. I combined these data with the most up-to-date phylogeny of Progne currently available to examine the patterns of niche evolution within the genus. I found limited evidence for niche divergence across the breeding distributions of Progne, and much stronger support for niche conservatism with patterns of niche partitioning. The ancestral Progne had a relatively broad ecological niche, like extant basal Progne lineages, and several geographically localized descendant species occupy only portions of this larger ancestral niche. I recovered strong evidence of breeding niche divergence for four of 36 taxon pairs but only one of these divergent pairs involved two widespread species (Southern Martin P. elegans vs. Gray-breasted Martin P. chalybea). Potential niche expansion from the ancestral species was observed in the most wide-ranging present-day species, namely the North American Purple Martin P. subis and P. chalybea. I analyzed populations of P. subis separately, as a microcosm of Progne evolution, and agai…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jacob C. Cooper
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17345
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Cooper
abstract: Ecological niche divergence is generally considered to be a facet of evolution that may accompany geographic isolation and diversification in allopatry, contributing to species’ evolutionary distinctiveness through time. The null expectation for any two diverging species in geographic isolation is that of niche conservatism, wherein populations do not rapidly shift to or adapt to novel environments. Here, I test ecological niche divergence for a widespread, pan-American lineage, the avian genus of martins (Progne). The genus Progne includes migrant and resident species, as well as geographically restricted taxa and widespread, intercontinentally distributed taxa, thus providing an ideal group in which to study the nature of niche divergence within a broad geographic mosaic. I obtained distributional information for the genus from publicly available databases and created ecological niche models for each species to create pairwise comparisons of environmental space. I combined these data with the most up-to-date phylogeny of Progne currently available to examine the patterns of niche evolution within the genus. I found limited evidence for niche divergence across the breeding distributions of Progne, and much stronger support for niche conservatism with patterns of niche partitioning. The ancestral Progne had a relatively broad ecological niche, like extant basal Progne lineages, and several geographically localized descendant species occupy only portions of this larger ancestral niche. I recovered strong evidence of breeding niche divergence for four of 36 taxon pairs but only one of these divergent pairs involved two widespread species (Southern Martin P. elegans vs. Gray-breasted Martin P. chalybea). Potential niche expansion from the ancestral species was observed in the most wide-ranging present-day species, namely the North American Purple Martin P. subis and P. chalybea. I analyzed populations of P. subis separately, as a microcosm of Progne evolution, and agai…
bibliographic citation: Cooper (2024) Ecological niche divergence or ecological niche partitioning in a widespread Neotropical bird lineage. PeerJ 12:e17345 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17345
date submitted: 2023-07-26
date accepted: 2024-04-15
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cooper
  given name: Jacob C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17345
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: ©2024 Cooper
attribution name: Cooper

Three new species of free-living marine nematodes of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) from the continental shelf off northeastern Brazil (Atlantic Ocean)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Three new species of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) are described from sample sediments collected in the South Atlantic, along the Continental Shelf break of Northeastern Brazil. Microlaimus paraundulatus sp. n. possesses four setiform cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three small teeth, arched and slender spicules and a wave-shaped gubernaculum. Microlaimus modestus sp. n. is characterized by four small cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three teeth (one large dorsal tooth), cephalated spicules and a strongly arched gubernaculum in the distal region. Microlaimus nordestinus sp. n. is characterized by the following set of features: relatively long body, eight rows of hypodermal glands that extend longitudinally along the body and a funnel-shaped gubernaculum surrounding the spicules at the distal end. An amendment of the diagnosis is proposed for the genus.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alex Manoel
creator: Patrícia F. Neres
creator: Andre M. Esteves
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17355
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Silva et al.
abstract: Three new species of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) are described from sample sediments collected in the South Atlantic, along the Continental Shelf break of Northeastern Brazil. Microlaimus paraundulatus sp. n. possesses four setiform cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three small teeth, arched and slender spicules and a wave-shaped gubernaculum. Microlaimus modestus sp. n. is characterized by four small cephalic sensillae, a buccal cavity with three teeth (one large dorsal tooth), cephalated spicules and a strongly arched gubernaculum in the distal region. Microlaimus nordestinus sp. n. is characterized by the following set of features: relatively long body, eight rows of hypodermal glands that extend longitudinally along the body and a funnel-shaped gubernaculum surrounding the spicules at the distal end. An amendment of the diagnosis is proposed for the genus.
bibliographic citation: Manoel et al. (2024) Three new species of free-living marine nematodes of the Microlaimus genus (Nematoda: Microlaimidae) from the continental shelf off northeastern Brazil (Atlantic Ocean). PeerJ 12:e17355 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17355
date submitted: 2023-12-07
date accepted: 2024-04-18
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Manoel
  given name: Alex
author list: Agent
  family name: F. Neres
  given name: Patrícia
author list: Agent
  family name: Esteves
  given name: Andre M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17355
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: © 2024 Manoel et al.
attribution name: Silva et al.

Genome-wide analysis of bZIP transcription factors and their expression patterns in response to methyl jasmonate and low-temperature stresses in Platycodon grandiflorus
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Platycodon grandiflorus belongs to the genus Platycodon and has many pharmacological effects, such as expectorant, antitussive, and anti-tumor properties. Among transcription factor families peculiar to eukaryotes, the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family is one of the most important, which exists widely in plants and participates in many biological processes, such as plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, genomic analysis of the bZIP gene family and related stress response genes has not yet been reported in P. grandiflorus. Methods P. grandiflorus bZIP (PgbZIP) genes were first identified here, and the phylogenetic relationships and conserved motifs in the PgbZIPs were also performed. Meanwhile, gene structures, conserved domains, and the possible protein subcellular localizations of these PgbZIPs were characterized. Most importantly, the cis-regulatory elements and expression patterns of selected genes exposed to two different stresses were analyzed to provide further information on PgbZIPs potential biological roles in P. grandiflorus upon exposure to environmental stresses. Conclusions Forty-six PgbZIPs were identified in P. grandiflorus and divided into nine groups, as displayed in the phylogenetic tree. The results of the chromosomal location and the collinearity analysis showed that forty-six PgbZIP genes were distributed on eight chromosomes, with one tandem duplication event and eleven segmental duplication events identified. Most PgbZIPs in the same phylogenetic group have similar conserved motifs, domains, and gene structures. There are cis-regulatory elements related to the methyl jasmonate (MeJA) response, low-temperature response, abscisic acid response, auxin response, and gibberellin response. Ten PgbZIP genes were selected to study their expression patterns upon exposure to low-temperature and MeJA treatments, and all ten genes responded to these stresses. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) res…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jizhou Fan
creator: Na Chen
creator: Weiyi Rao
creator: Wanyue Ding
creator: Yuqing Wang
creator: Yingying Duan
creator: Jing Wu
creator: Shihai Xing
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Genomics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17371
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Fan et al.
abstract: Background Platycodon grandiflorus belongs to the genus Platycodon and has many pharmacological effects, such as expectorant, antitussive, and anti-tumor properties. Among transcription factor families peculiar to eukaryotes, the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family is one of the most important, which exists widely in plants and participates in many biological processes, such as plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, genomic analysis of the bZIP gene family and related stress response genes has not yet been reported in P. grandiflorus. Methods P. grandiflorus bZIP (PgbZIP) genes were first identified here, and the phylogenetic relationships and conserved motifs in the PgbZIPs were also performed. Meanwhile, gene structures, conserved domains, and the possible protein subcellular localizations of these PgbZIPs were characterized. Most importantly, the cis-regulatory elements and expression patterns of selected genes exposed to two different stresses were analyzed to provide further information on PgbZIPs potential biological roles in P. grandiflorus upon exposure to environmental stresses. Conclusions Forty-six PgbZIPs were identified in P. grandiflorus and divided into nine groups, as displayed in the phylogenetic tree. The results of the chromosomal location and the collinearity analysis showed that forty-six PgbZIP genes were distributed on eight chromosomes, with one tandem duplication event and eleven segmental duplication events identified. Most PgbZIPs in the same phylogenetic group have similar conserved motifs, domains, and gene structures. There are cis-regulatory elements related to the methyl jasmonate (MeJA) response, low-temperature response, abscisic acid response, auxin response, and gibberellin response. Ten PgbZIP genes were selected to study their expression patterns upon exposure to low-temperature and MeJA treatments, and all ten genes responded to these stresses. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) res…
bibliographic citation: Fan et al. (2024) Genome-wide analysis of bZIP transcription factors and their expression patterns in response to methyl jasmonate and low-temperature stresses in Platycodon grandiflorus. PeerJ 12:e17371 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17371
date submitted: 2023-12-01
date accepted: 2024-04-18
issued: 2024-04-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fan
  given name: Jizhou
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Na
author list: Agent
  family name: Rao
  given name: Weiyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Wanyue
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yuqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Duan
  given name: Yingying
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Xing
  given name: Shihai
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17371
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-30
copyright: © 2024 Fan et al.
attribution name: Fan et al.

Bacterial community profiles within the water samples of leptospirosis outbreak areas
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Leptospirosis is a water-related zoonotic disease. The disease is primarily transmitted from animals to humans through pathogenic Leptospira bacteria in contaminated water and soil. Rivers have a critical role in Leptospira transmissions, while co-infection potentials with other waterborne bacteria might increase the severity and death risk of the disease. Methods The water samples evaluated in this study were collected from four recreational forest rivers, Sungai Congkak, Sungai Lopo, Hulu Perdik, and Gunung Nuang. The samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the 16S rRNA and in-depth metagenomic analysis of the bacterial communities. Results The water samples recorded various bacterial diversity. The samples from the Hulu Perdik and Sungai Lopo downstream sampling sites had a more significant diversity, followed by Sungai Congkak. Conversely, the upstream samples from Gunung Nuang exhibited the lowest bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla detected in downstream areas. Potential pathogenic bacteria belonging to the genera Burkholderiales and Serratia were also identified, raising concerns about co-infection possibilities. Nevertheless, Leptospira pathogenic bacteria were absent from all sites, which is attributable to its limited persistence. The bacteria might also be washed to other locations, contributing to the reduced environmental bacterial load. Conclusion The present study established the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the river ecosystems assessed. The findings offer valuable insights for designing strategies for preventing pathogenic bacteria environmental contamination and managing leptospirosis co-infections with other human diseases. Furthermore, closely monitoring water sample compositions with diverse approaches, including sentinel programs, wastewater-based epidemiology, and clinical surveillance, enables disease transmission and outbreak early detections. The …
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format: text/html
creator: Asmalia Md Lasim
creator: Ahmad Mohiddin Mohd Ngesom
creator: Sheila Nathan
creator: Fatimah Abdul Razak
creator: Mardani Abdul Halim
creator: Wardah Mohd-Saleh
creator: Kamaruddin Zainul Abidin
creator: Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
subject: Genomics
subject: Microbiology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Freshwater Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17096
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Md Lasim et al.
abstract: Background Leptospirosis is a water-related zoonotic disease. The disease is primarily transmitted from animals to humans through pathogenic Leptospira bacteria in contaminated water and soil. Rivers have a critical role in Leptospira transmissions, while co-infection potentials with other waterborne bacteria might increase the severity and death risk of the disease. Methods The water samples evaluated in this study were collected from four recreational forest rivers, Sungai Congkak, Sungai Lopo, Hulu Perdik, and Gunung Nuang. The samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the 16S rRNA and in-depth metagenomic analysis of the bacterial communities. Results The water samples recorded various bacterial diversity. The samples from the Hulu Perdik and Sungai Lopo downstream sampling sites had a more significant diversity, followed by Sungai Congkak. Conversely, the upstream samples from Gunung Nuang exhibited the lowest bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla detected in downstream areas. Potential pathogenic bacteria belonging to the genera Burkholderiales and Serratia were also identified, raising concerns about co-infection possibilities. Nevertheless, Leptospira pathogenic bacteria were absent from all sites, which is attributable to its limited persistence. The bacteria might also be washed to other locations, contributing to the reduced environmental bacterial load. Conclusion The present study established the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the river ecosystems assessed. The findings offer valuable insights for designing strategies for preventing pathogenic bacteria environmental contamination and managing leptospirosis co-infections with other human diseases. Furthermore, closely monitoring water sample compositions with diverse approaches, including sentinel programs, wastewater-based epidemiology, and clinical surveillance, enables disease transmission and outbreak early detections. The …
bibliographic citation: Md Lasim et al. (2024) Bacterial community profiles within the water samples of leptospirosis outbreak areas. PeerJ 12:e17096 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17096
date submitted: 2023-10-29
date accepted: 2024-02-21
issued: 2024-04-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Md Lasim
  given name: Asmalia
author list: Agent
  family name: Mohd Ngesom
  given name: Ahmad Mohiddin
author list: Agent
  family name: Nathan
  given name: Sheila
author list: Agent
  family name: Abdul Razak
  given name: Fatimah
author list: Agent
  family name: Abdul Halim
  given name: Mardani
author list: Agent
  family name: Mohd-Saleh
  given name: Wardah
author list: Agent
  family name: Zainul Abidin
  given name: Kamaruddin
author list: Agent
  family name: Mohd-Taib
  given name: Farah Shafawati
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17096
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-29
copyright: © 2024 Md Lasim et al.
attribution name: Md Lasim et al.

Italian adaptation of the Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Suggestibility is a personality trait that reflects a general tendency to accept messages. The Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS) is a self-report scale developed to measure the degree of individuals’ perceptions of their suggestibility. This study aimed to adapt the MISS in an Italian sample. Methods We conducted two studies. In the first study, 345 subjects (270 females (78%), mean age = 36.21 years ± 14.06 SD) completed the translated Italian version of the MISS, composed of five subscales (consumer suggestibility; persuadability; sensation contagion; physiological reactivity; peer conformity). We investigated the structural validity of the scale through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing four measurement models (unidimensional, four-factor, hierarchical four factors, and bifactor) and explored reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald’s omega. In the second study, we cross-validated the MISS on a new independent sample. We enrolled 277 participants (196 females (71%), mean age 30.56, SD = 12.58) who underwent the new version of the scale. We performed factor analyses to test structural validity and compared four measurement models. Then, we investigated reliability and conducted a latent variable analysis to explore divergent validity. Results The CFA in the first study revealed a bifactor solution of the MISS. This structure was interpretable and provided an adequate fit for the data. The final version of the scale was reduced to forty-six items with globally good indices of adaptation. The scale also demonstrated acceptable reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald’s Hierarchical Omega. In the second study, we found that the bifactor structure was confirmed. Factor loadings inspection revealed that there was no justification to report only the separate scores for the subscales. We also found that the scale showed good internal consistency, but mixed evidence for divergent validit…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Marco Tullio Liuzza
creator: Eva Tolomeo
creator: Giuseppe Occhiuto
creator: Martina Cilurzo
creator: Iolanda Martino
creator: Antonio Cerasa
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17145
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Liuzza et al.
abstract: Background Suggestibility is a personality trait that reflects a general tendency to accept messages. The Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS) is a self-report scale developed to measure the degree of individuals’ perceptions of their suggestibility. This study aimed to adapt the MISS in an Italian sample. Methods We conducted two studies. In the first study, 345 subjects (270 females (78%), mean age = 36.21 years ± 14.06 SD) completed the translated Italian version of the MISS, composed of five subscales (consumer suggestibility; persuadability; sensation contagion; physiological reactivity; peer conformity). We investigated the structural validity of the scale through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing four measurement models (unidimensional, four-factor, hierarchical four factors, and bifactor) and explored reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald’s omega. In the second study, we cross-validated the MISS on a new independent sample. We enrolled 277 participants (196 females (71%), mean age 30.56, SD = 12.58) who underwent the new version of the scale. We performed factor analyses to test structural validity and compared four measurement models. Then, we investigated reliability and conducted a latent variable analysis to explore divergent validity. Results The CFA in the first study revealed a bifactor solution of the MISS. This structure was interpretable and provided an adequate fit for the data. The final version of the scale was reduced to forty-six items with globally good indices of adaptation. The scale also demonstrated acceptable reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald’s Hierarchical Omega. In the second study, we found that the bifactor structure was confirmed. Factor loadings inspection revealed that there was no justification to report only the separate scores for the subscales. We also found that the scale showed good internal consistency, but mixed evidence for divergent validit…
bibliographic citation: Liuzza et al. (2024) Italian adaptation of the Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS). PeerJ 12:e17145 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17145
date submitted: 2023-09-14
date accepted: 2024-02-29
issued: 2024-04-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liuzza
  given name: Marco Tullio
author list: Agent
  family name: Tolomeo
  given name: Eva
author list: Agent
  family name: Occhiuto
  given name: Giuseppe
author list: Agent
  family name: Cilurzo
  given name: Martina
author list: Agent
  family name: Martino
  given name: Iolanda
author list: Agent
  family name: Cerasa
  given name: Antonio
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17145
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-29
copyright: ©2024 Liuzza et al.
attribution name: Liuzza et al.

Assessing dietary specialization to inform the conservation of the fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), an endangered vermivore
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Quantifying the diet of endangered species is crucial for conservation, especially for diet specialists, which can be more susceptible to environmental changes. The vulnerable fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) is considered a specialist that primarily feeds its nestlings with earthworms. However, there have been few studies of the nestling diet provisioned by parents, and no assessments of earthworm proportion in the diet of adults. Our study aimed to fill these gaps, shedding light on crucial factors for conservation. Combining new observations with existing literature, we confirmed a consistent dominance of earthworms in the nestling diet, regardless of rainfall, nestling age, and time of day. We extrapolated the total earthworm consumption during a breeding event, accounting for potential variation in the availability of earthworms and their prevalence in the adult diet. We used literature-based earthworm densities in pitta habitats and our estimates of family earthworm consumption to calculate the habitat area that could provide a pitta family with the number of earthworms consumed during a breeding event. The predictions matched observed pitta home range sizes when assumed that the adult diet is comprised of approximately 70% earthworms. The results highlight the importance of earthworm-rich habitats for conservation planning of the fairy pitta. To mitigate the effects of habitat destruction, we discuss conservation practices that may involve enhancing earthworm abundance in natural habitats and providing vegetation cover for foraging pittas in adjacent anthropogenic habitats rich in earthworms. To guide conservation efforts effectively, future studies should investigate whether previously reported breeding in developed plantation habitats is due to high earthworm abundance there. Future studies should also quantify correlations between local earthworm densities, home range size, and the breeding success of the fairy pitta.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jinseok Park
creator: Jungmoon Ha
creator: Woojoo Kim
creator: Piotr G. Jablonski
creator: Sang-im Lee
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17189
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Park et al.
abstract: Quantifying the diet of endangered species is crucial for conservation, especially for diet specialists, which can be more susceptible to environmental changes. The vulnerable fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) is considered a specialist that primarily feeds its nestlings with earthworms. However, there have been few studies of the nestling diet provisioned by parents, and no assessments of earthworm proportion in the diet of adults. Our study aimed to fill these gaps, shedding light on crucial factors for conservation. Combining new observations with existing literature, we confirmed a consistent dominance of earthworms in the nestling diet, regardless of rainfall, nestling age, and time of day. We extrapolated the total earthworm consumption during a breeding event, accounting for potential variation in the availability of earthworms and their prevalence in the adult diet. We used literature-based earthworm densities in pitta habitats and our estimates of family earthworm consumption to calculate the habitat area that could provide a pitta family with the number of earthworms consumed during a breeding event. The predictions matched observed pitta home range sizes when assumed that the adult diet is comprised of approximately 70% earthworms. The results highlight the importance of earthworm-rich habitats for conservation planning of the fairy pitta. To mitigate the effects of habitat destruction, we discuss conservation practices that may involve enhancing earthworm abundance in natural habitats and providing vegetation cover for foraging pittas in adjacent anthropogenic habitats rich in earthworms. To guide conservation efforts effectively, future studies should investigate whether previously reported breeding in developed plantation habitats is due to high earthworm abundance there. Future studies should also quantify correlations between local earthworm densities, home range size, and the breeding success of the fairy pitta.
bibliographic citation: Park et al. (2024) Assessing dietary specialization to inform the conservation of the fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), an endangered vermivore. PeerJ 12:e17189 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17189
date submitted: 2022-06-22
date accepted: 2024-03-12
issued: 2024-04-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Jinseok
author list: Agent
  family name: Ha
  given name: Jungmoon
author list: Agent
  family name: Kim
  given name: Woojoo
author list: Agent
  family name: Jablonski
  given name: Piotr G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Sang-im
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17189
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-29
copyright: ©2024 Park et al.
attribution name: Park et al.

Alpha lipoic acid mitigates adverse impacts of drought stress on growth and yield of mungbean: photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidative defense mechanism
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Context Exogenous use of potential organic compounds through different modes is a promising strategy for the induction of water stress tolerance in crop plants for better yield. Aims The present study aimed to explore the potential role of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in inducing water stress tolerance in mungbean lines when applied exogenously through various modes. Methods The experiment was conducted in a field with a split-plot arrangement, having three replicates for each treatment. Two irrigation regimes, including normal and reduced irrigation, were applied. The plants allocated to reduced irrigation were watered only at the reproductive stage. Three levels of ALA (0, 0.1, 0.15 mM) were applied through different modes (seed priming, foliar or priming+foliar). Key results ALA treatment through different modes manifested higher growth under reduced irrigation (water stress) and normal irrigation. Compared to the other two modes, the application of ALA as seed priming was found more effective in ameliorating the adverse impacts of water stress on growth and yield associated with their better content of leaf photosynthetic pigments, maintenance of plant water relations, levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, improved activities of enzymatic antioxidants, and decreased lipid peroxidation and H2O2 levels. The maximum increase in shoot fresh weight (29% and 28%), shoot dry weight (27% and 24%), 100-grain weight (24% and 23%) and total grain yield (20% and 21%) in water-stressed mungbean plants of line 16003 and 16004, respectively, was recorded due to ALA seed priming than other modes of applications. Conclusions Conclusively, 0.1 and 0.15 mM levels of ALA as seed priming were found to reduce the adverse impact of water stress on mungbean yield that was associated with improved physio-biochemical mechanisms. Implications The findings of the study will be helpful for the agriculturalists working in arid and semi-arid regions to obtain a better yield of mungbean that will b…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Naima Hafeez Mian
creator: Muhammad Azeem
creator: Qasim Ali
creator: Saqib Mahmood
creator: Muhammad Sohail Akram
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17191
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Mian et al.
abstract: Context Exogenous use of potential organic compounds through different modes is a promising strategy for the induction of water stress tolerance in crop plants for better yield. Aims The present study aimed to explore the potential role of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in inducing water stress tolerance in mungbean lines when applied exogenously through various modes. Methods The experiment was conducted in a field with a split-plot arrangement, having three replicates for each treatment. Two irrigation regimes, including normal and reduced irrigation, were applied. The plants allocated to reduced irrigation were watered only at the reproductive stage. Three levels of ALA (0, 0.1, 0.15 mM) were applied through different modes (seed priming, foliar or priming+foliar). Key results ALA treatment through different modes manifested higher growth under reduced irrigation (water stress) and normal irrigation. Compared to the other two modes, the application of ALA as seed priming was found more effective in ameliorating the adverse impacts of water stress on growth and yield associated with their better content of leaf photosynthetic pigments, maintenance of plant water relations, levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, improved activities of enzymatic antioxidants, and decreased lipid peroxidation and H2O2 levels. The maximum increase in shoot fresh weight (29% and 28%), shoot dry weight (27% and 24%), 100-grain weight (24% and 23%) and total grain yield (20% and 21%) in water-stressed mungbean plants of line 16003 and 16004, respectively, was recorded due to ALA seed priming than other modes of applications. Conclusions Conclusively, 0.1 and 0.15 mM levels of ALA as seed priming were found to reduce the adverse impact of water stress on mungbean yield that was associated with improved physio-biochemical mechanisms. Implications The findings of the study will be helpful for the agriculturalists working in arid and semi-arid regions to obtain a better yield of mungbean that will b…
bibliographic citation: Mian et al. (2024) Alpha lipoic acid mitigates adverse impacts of drought stress on growth and yield of mungbean: photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidative defense mechanism. PeerJ 12:e17191 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17191
date submitted: 2023-11-10
date accepted: 2024-03-13
issued: 2024-04-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mian
  given name: Naima Hafeez
author list: Agent
  family name: Azeem
  given name: Muhammad
author list: Agent
  family name: Ali
  given name: Qasim
author list: Agent
  family name: Mahmood
  given name: Saqib
author list: Agent
  family name: Akram
  given name: Muhammad Sohail
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17191
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-04-29
copyright: © 2024 Mian et al.
attribution name: Mian et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359