title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=591 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Heat treatment-induced autophagy promotes breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transitions link: https://peerj.com/articles/14640 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: BackgroundInsufficient thermal ablation can accelerate malignant behaviors and metastases in some solid tumors, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy are involved in tumor metastasis. It has been found that TGF-β2 which belongs to the family of transforming growth factors often associated with cancer cell invasiveness and EMT. However, whether the interactions between autophagy and TGF-β2 induce EMT in breast cancer (BC) cells following insufficient microwave ablation (MWA) remains unclear.MethodsBC cells were treated with sublethal heat treatment to simulate insufficient MWA, and the effects of heat treatment on the BC cell phenotypes were explored. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays were performed to evaluate the influence of sublethal heat treatment on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of BC cells. Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to determine the changes in markers associated with autophagy and EMT following sublethal heat treatment.ResultsResults showed that heat treatment promoted the proliferation of surviving BC cells, which was accompanied by autophagy induction. Heat treatment-induced autophagy up-regulated TGF-β2/Smad2 signaling and promoted EMT phenotype, thereby enhancing BC cells’ migration and invasion abilities. An increase or decrease of TGF-β2 expression resulted in the potentiation and suppression of autophagy, as well as the enhancement and abatement of EMT. Autophagy inhibitors facilitated apoptosis and repressed proliferation of BC cells in vitro, and thwarted BC cell tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in vivo.ConclusionHeat treatment-induced autophagy promoted invasion and metastasis via TGF-β2/Smad2-mediated EMTs. Suppressing autophagy may be a suitable strategy for overcoming the progression and metastasis of residual BC cells following insufficient MWA. creator: Zhennan Li creator: Cheng Lu creator: Fengliang Wang creator: Haowei Guo creator: Zhipeng Wang creator: Hong Yin creator: Jian Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14640 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Li et al. title: The circadian calling activity of a lebinthine cricket with high-frequency calls is unaffected by cicada choruses in the day link: https://peerj.com/articles/14641 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: BackgroundMany factors can influence circadian rhythms in animals. For acoustically communicating species, both abiotic cues (such as light and temperature) and biotic cues (such as the activity of other animals), can influence the timing of signalling activity. Here we compare the 24-h singing activity of the cricket Lebinthus luae in the laboratory and field to assess whether the presence of other singing insects influences circadian rhythm.MethodsAcoustic monitors were placed in four localities in Singapore and the number of L. luae calls were counted for 10 min of each hour. Individuals from the same localities were captured and recorded in the laboratory in silence but with similar abiotic conditions (temperature and light cycle) as they experience in the field, and the number of calls over 24 h was quantified.ResultsThe 24-h pattern of L. luae singing was not significantly different between laboratory and field recordings. Singing activity peaked in the morning, with a secondary peak in the afternoon and a smaller peak at night. In the field, L. luae sang in the same locations and at the same time as diurnally singing cicadas, suggesting that the sympatric cicada chorus did not affect the circadian rhythm of communication in this species. Acoustic niche partitioning could potentially explain the ability of this cricket to call alongside cicadas: L. luae sings at higher frequencies than sympatric cicadas, unlike nocturnally singing cricket species that overlap with cicadas in frequency. creator: Ming Kai Tan creator: Tony Robillard creator: Hannah ter Hofstede uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14641 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Tan et al. title: Modeling geographic distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from molecular evidence in soils of Argentinean Puna using a maximum entropy approach link: https://peerj.com/articles/14651 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: The biogeographic region of Argentinean Puna mainly extends at elevations higher than 3,000 m within the Andean Plateau and hosts diverse ecological communities highly adapted to extreme aridity and low temperatures. Soils of Puna are typically poorly evolved and geomorphology is shaped by drainage networks, resulting in highly vegetated endorheic basins and hypersaline basins known as salar or salt flats. Local communities rely on soil fertility for agricultural practices and on pastures for livestock rearing. From this perspective, investigating the scarcely explored microbiological diversity of these soils as indicators of ecosystems functioning might help to predict the fragility of these harsh environments. In this study we collected soil samples from 28 points, following a nested design within three different macro-habitats, i.e., Puna grassland, hypersaline salar and family-run crop fields. Total fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) occurrence were analyzed using eDNA sequencing. In addition, the significance of soil salinity and organic matter content as significant predictors of AMF occurrence, was assessed through Generalized Linear Mixed Modeling. We also investigated whether intensive grazing by cattle and lama in Puna grasslands may reduce the presence of AMF in these highly disturbed soils, driving or not major ecological changes, but no consistent results were found, suggesting that more specific experiments and further investigations may address the question more specifically. Finally, to predict the suitability for AMF in the different macro-habitats, Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) was performed within an environmental coherent area comprising both the phytogeographic regions of Puna and Altoandino. We modeled AMF distribution with a maximum entropy approach, including bioclimatic and edaphic predictors and obtaining maps of environmental suitability for AMF within the predicted areas. To assess the impact of farming on AMF occurrence, we set a new series of models excluding the cultivated Chaupi Rodeo samples. Overall, SDM predicted a lower suitability for AMF in hypersaline salar areas, while grassland habitats and a wider temperature seasonality range appear to be factors significantly related to AMF enrichment, suggesting a main role of seasonal dynamics in shaping AMF communities. The highest abundance of AMF was observed in Vicia faba crop fields, while potato fields yielded a very low AMF occurrence. The models excluding the cultivated Chaupi Rodeo samples highlighted that if these cultivated areas had theoretically remained unmanaged habitats of Puna and Altoandino, then large-scale soil features and local bioclimatic constraints would likely support a lower suitability for AMF. Using SDM we evidenced the influence of bioclimatic, edaphic and anthropic predictors in shaping AMF occurrence and highlighted the relevance of considering human activities to accurately predict AMF distribution. creator: Davide Nepote Valentin creator: Samuele Voyron creator: Florencia Soteras creator: Hebe Jorgelina Iriarte creator: Andrea Giovannini creator: Erica Lumini creator: Mónica A. Lugo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14651 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Nepote Valentin et al. title: Genome-wide identification of MAXs genes for strigolactones synthesis/signaling in solanaceous plants and analysis of their potential functions in tobacco link: https://peerj.com/articles/14669 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: The more axillary growth (MAX) gene family is a group of key genes involved in the synthesis and signal transduction of strigolactones (SLs) in plants. Although MAX genes play vital roles in plant growth and development, characterization of the MAX gene family has been limited in solanaceous crops, especially in tobacco. In this study, 74 members of the MAX family were identified in representative Solanaceae crops and classified into four groups. The physicochemical properties, gene structure, conserved protein structural domains, cis-acting elements, and expression patterns could be clearly distinguished between the biosynthetic and signal transduction subfamilies; furthermore, MAX genes in tobacco were found to be actively involved in the regulation of meristem development by responding to hormones. MAX genes involved in SL biosynthesis were more responsive to abiotic stresses than genes involved in SL signaling. Tobacco MAX genes may play an active role in stress resistance. The results of this study provide a basis for future in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanisms of MAX genes in tobacco meristem development and stress resistance. creator: Lixianqiu Wang creator: Bingjie Li creator: Changbo Dai creator: Anming Ding creator: Weifeng Wang creator: Haoqi Shi creator: Mengmeng Cui creator: Yuhe Sun creator: Jing Lv uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14669 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Wang et al. title: Microbial community composition and function in an urban waterway with combined sewer overflows before and after implementation of a stormwater storage pipe link: https://peerj.com/articles/14684 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: When the wastewater volume exceeds the sewer pipe capacity during extreme rainfall events, untreated sewage discharges directly into rivers as combined sewer overflow (CSO). To compare the impacts of CSOs and stormwater on urban waterways, we assessed physicochemical water quality, the 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community structure, and EcoPlate-based microbial functions during rainfall periods in an urban waterway before and after a stormwater storage pipe was commissioned. A temporal variation analysis showed that CSOs have significant impacts on microbial function and bacterial community structure, while their contributions to physicochemical parameters, bacterial abundance, and chlorophyll a were not confirmed. Heat map analysis showed that the impact of CSO on the waterway bacterial community structure was temporal and the bacterial community composition in CSO is distinct from that in sewers. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that the waterway physicochemical water qualities, bacterial community composition, and microbial community function were distinguishable from the upper reach of the river, rather than between CSO and stormwater. Changes in the relative abundance of tetracycline resistance (tet) genes—especially tet(M)—were observed after CSOs but did not coincide with changes in the microbial community composition, suggesting that the parameters affecting the microbial community composition and relative abundance of tet genes differ. After pipe implementation, however, stormwater did not contribute to the abundance of tet genes in the waterway. These results indicate that CSO-induced acute microbial disturbances in the urban waterway were alleviated by the implementation of a stormwater storage pipe and will support the efficiency of storage pipe operation for waterway management in urban areas. creator: Kazuaki Matsui creator: Takeshi Miki uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14684 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Matsui and Miki title: Comprehensive genomic signature of pyroptosis-related genes and relevant characterization in hepatocellular carcinoma link: https://peerj.com/articles/14691 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: BackgroundCurrently, the most predominant type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is also the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the global population. Pyroptosis is an emerging form of cell death that affects the prognosis of cancer patients by modulating tumor cell migration, proliferation and invasion. However, the evaluation of pyroptosis in the prognosis of HCC is still insufficient.MethodsA total of 365 HCC patients from the TCGA-LIHC cohort were classified into two distinct subtypes using consensus clustering of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs). Following univariate Cox analysis of differentially expressed genes between subtypes, we established a prognostic model (PRGs-score, PRGS) by LASSO Cox analysis. We further tested the predictive power of the prognostic model in the ICGC (LIRI-JP) and GEO (GSE14520) cohorts. The tumor microenvironment (TME) was studied using the CIBERSORT. The enrichment scores for immune cells and immune functions in low- and high-PRGS groups were assessed using ssGSEA. The IMvigor210 cohort was used to investigate the immunotherapy efficacy. Furthermore, we validated the expression of prognostic genes in PRGS by RT-qPCR in vitro.ResultsThe subtyping of HCC based on PRGs exhibited distinct clinical characteristics. We developed a prognostic model PRGS by differentially expressed genes between different subtypes. The results showed that PRGS could well forecast the survival of HCC patients in different cohorts and was associated with the immune microenvironment. Moreover, PRGS was considered to be an independent prognostic risk factor and superior to other pyroptosis-related signatures. Low-PRGS implied greater immune cell infiltration and better overall survival with immunotherapy. The results of RT-qPCR also showed that prognostic genes were significantly dysregulated in HCC.ConclusionsPRGS has promising application in forecasting the prognosis of HCC patients, and its relationship with the immune microenvironment provides a basis for the subsequent treatment and research of HCC. creator: Sheng Wang creator: Songsen Gao creator: Liang Shan creator: Xueyi Qian creator: Jiajie Luan creator: Xiongwen Lv uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14691 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Wang et al. title: Arsenic and mercury tolerant rhizobacteria that can improve phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils link: https://peerj.com/articles/14697 last-modified: 2023-01-12 description: BackgroundMining deposits often contain high levels of toxic elements such as mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) representing strong environmental hazards. The purpose of this study was the isolation for plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPBs) that can improve phytoremediation of such mine waste deposits.MethodsWe isolated native soil bacteria from the rhizosphere of plants of mine waste deposits and agricultural land that was previously mine tailings from Tlalpujahua Michoacán, Mexico, and were identified by their fatty acid profile according to the MIDI Sherlock system. Plant growth promoting traits of all bacterial isolates were examined including production of 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), siderophores, biofilm formation, and phosphate solubilization. Finally, the response of selected bacteria to mercury and arsenic was examined an in-vitro assay.ResultsA total 99 bacterial strains were isolated and 48 identified, representing 34 species belonging to 23 genera. Sixty six percent of the isolates produced IAA of which Pseudomonas fluorescens TL97 produced the most. Herbaspirillum huttiense TL36 performed best in terms of phosphate solubilization and production of siderophores. In terms of biofilm formation, Bacillus atrophaeus TL76 was the best.DiscussionMost of the bacteria isolates showed high level of tolerance to the arsenic (as HAsNa2O4 and AsNaO2), whereas most isolates were susceptible to HgCl2. Three of the selected bacteria with PGP traits Herbispirillum huttiense TL36, Klebsiella oxytoca TL49 and Rhizobium radiobacter TL52 were also tolerant to high concentrations of mercury chloride, this might could be used for restoring or phytoremediating the adverse environmental conditions present in mine waste deposits. creator: Daniel Rojas-Solis creator: John Larsen creator: Roberto Lindig-Cisneros uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14697 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Rojas-Solis et al. title: Effects of high-intensity interval exercise on cardiac troponin elevation when comparing with moderate-intensity continuous exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/14508 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: BackgroundThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) with different recovery modes versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation.MethodologyA literature search was conducted in four databases: Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO and Web of Science from January 2010 to June 2022. The articles were screened, evaluated for quality before data were extracted. The review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021245649). Standardized mean differences (SMD) of peak cTn were analyzed with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) using Revman 5.4 software.ResultsSix studies satisfied the inclusion criteria with a total of 92 and 79 participants for HIIE and MICE, respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference between HIIE and MICE in the elevation of cardiac troponin T (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI [−0.21, 1.03]], p = 0.20, I2 = 77%, p for heterogeneity <0.01). In subgroup analysis, HIIE with passive recovery elicits greater release of cardiac troponin T than MICE (SMD: 0.85 [95% CI [0.44, 1.27]], p < 0.01, I2 = 32%, p for heterogeneity = 0.22). Changes of cardiac troponin T (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI [−0.21, 1.03]], p = 0.20, I2 = 77%, p for heterogeneity < 0.01) after HIIE with active recovery were not significantly different from those of MICE.ConclusionsThere was no significant difference between HIIE and MICE in the elevation of cardiac troponin T. However, HIIE with passive recovery elicited more cardiac troponin T elevation than MICE, which should be considered when developing exercise programs. creator: Shuoqi Li creator: Shazlin Shaharudin creator: Rafel Cirer-Sastre creator: Feifei Li creator: Faizal Abdul Manaf creator: Mohd Faiz Mohd Shukri uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14508 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Li et al. title: Taxonomic review of Saguinus mystax (Spix, 1823) (Primates, Callitrichidae), and description of a new species link: https://peerj.com/articles/14526 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: Although the Amazon has the greatest diversity of primates, there are still taxonomic uncertainties for many taxa, such as the species of the Saguinus mystax group. The most geographically broadly distributed and phenotypically diverse species in this group is S. mystax, and its phenotypic diversity has been recognized as three subspecies—S. mystax mystax, S. mystax pileatus and S. mystax pluto—with non-overlapping geographic distributions. In this sense, we carried out an extensive field survey in their distribution areas and used a framework of taxonomic hypothesis testing of genomic data combined with an integrative taxonomic decision-making framework to carry out a taxonomic revision of S. mystax. Our tests supported the existence of three lineages/species. The first species corresponds to Saguinus mystax mystax from the left bank of the Juruá River, which was raised to the species level, and we also discovered and described animals from the Juruá–Tefé interfluve previously attributed to S. mystax mystax as a new species. The subspecies S. m. pileatus and S. m. pluto are recognized as a single species, under a new nomenclatural combination. However, given their phenotypic distinction and allopatric distribution, they potentially are a manifestation of an early stage of speciation, and therefore we maintain their subspecific designations. creator: Gerson Paulino Lopes creator: Fábio Rohe creator: Fabrício Bertuol creator: Erico Polo creator: Ivan Junqueira Lima creator: João Valsecchi creator: Tamily Carvalho Melo Santos creator: Stephen D. Nash creator: Maria Nazareth Ferreira da Silva creator: Jean P. Boubli creator: Izeni Pires Farias creator: Tomas Hrbek uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14526 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Lopes et al. title: Senile dementia and psychiatric stigma among community health service providers and relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14613 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: BackgroundThe number of people suffering from dementia is increasing rapidly in China. Early identification, referral, and intervention for dementia patients within communities are important to public health. However, these measures could be impacted by misconceptions about dementia and associated psychiatric stigma from community health professionals and relatives of dementia patients.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 249 participants, which included community doctors, community nurses, and relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients in Guiyang, China. Participants were recruited through convenient sampling. The Chinese version of Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) and the Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale (PPSS) were used to evaluate the participants’ knowledge of dementia and dementia-related psychiatric stigma.ResultsA total of 249 participants completed the questionnaire. The participants had moderate overall knowledge of dementia and the associated psychiatric stigma. Participants who were ≥45 years old, had a low level of education, had a low monthly income, or gained knowledge of dementia through non-media channels had lower awareness of dementia and stronger psychiatric stigma. In the “Communication & behavior” subscale of DKAS, all participants had a low level of awareness. Relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients had higher total PPSS and “Marital preclusion” subscale scores than community doctors and nurses but lower psychiatric stigma based on the PPSS “Self-deprecation” subscale score.ConclusionsDespite their profession, community doctors and nurses did not show an absolute advantage over relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients in the dementia knowledge, and they even showed higher psychiatric stigma in some subscales. The self-deprecation subscale is related to the identification with negative labels such as “people with a mental illness are the weak”. This study shows that reducing stigma on the “Self-deprecation” subscale should be a core component of training and educational programs targeted at improving dementia knowledge among community health service providers. creator: Qiwen Zhang creator: Jing Deng creator: Huanyue Luo creator: Li Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14613 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Zhang et al.