Article
Environmental Sciences
Kendall H. Osborne, Travis Longcore
Summary: This study revealed a significant increase in larval mortality risk for an endangered butterfly species exposed to gypsum dust, potentially leading to direct mortality, reduced developmental rates, lower weights, and extended development periods that disrupt natural phenology. The use of dust to reduce insect infestations is an ancient practice that may have chronic harms on insects facing worldwide declines.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Paolo Solari, Giorgia Sollai, Viviana Pasquini, Angelica Giglioli, Roberto Crnjar, Piero Addis
Summary: This study investigates the chemical sensitivity of the Mediterranean sea urchin to a blue-green alga and several amino acids. The results show that the algae and amino acids have a strong stimulating effect on the sea urchin, suggesting their potential value in sea urchin aquaculture.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Gabriella Morini, Marcel Winnig, Timo Vennegeerts, Gigliola Borgonovo, Angela Bassoli
Summary: Vanillin, the major compound in vanilla, activates three human bitter taste receptors TAS2R14, TAS2R20, and TAS2R39, leading to the bitterness sensation associated with vanilla. This discovery may lead to improving the sensory profile of vanilla in food preparation and open up possibilities for its use in sensory nutrition and pharmaceutical applications.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yan Chen, Pei-Chao Wang, Shuai-Shuai Zhang, Jun Yang, Guo-Cheng Li, Ling-Qiao Huang, Chen-Zhu Wang
Summary: This study investigates the function of the gustatory receptor Gr180 in Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars. The results show that Gr180 responds to coumarin and is also involved in sensing sinigrin and strychnine. These findings enhance our understanding of the gustatory coding mechanisms of herbivorous insects to deterrents.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Debora Dreher Nabinger, Stefani Altenhofen, Julia Vasconcellos Peixoto, Julia Maria Kuhl da Silva, Robert Gerlai, Carla Denise Bonan
Summary: The research found that the effects of quinpirole on zebrafish larvae are dependent on their feeding status. Feeding makes the neurotransmitter system more susceptible to the effects of quinpirole.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giulia Caioni, Carmine Merola, Cristiano Bertolucci, Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Beste Basak Savasci, Mara Massimi, Martina Colasante, Giulia Fioravanti, Nunzio Antonio Cacciola, Rodolfo Ippoliti, Michele d'Angelo, Monia Perugini, Elisabetta Benedetti
Summary: This study investigates the effects of early-life exposure to Triclocarban (TCC) on eye development and visual function in zebrafish. The results show that TCC exposure disrupts retinal architecture and impairs visual perception, suggesting potential long-term effects on zebrafish visual function.
Article
Ecology
Karina Karenina, Andrey Giljov
Summary: This study investigated visual lateralization in wild yellow-footed green pigeons and found that they exhibit lateralized viewing strategies when feeding on different types of food. The results also showed that visual lateralization is associated with the feeding success of pigeons, indicating important fitness benefits.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Laenne Barbara Silva de Moraes, Ruda Fernandes Brandao Santos, Genes Fernando Goncalves Junior, Gessica Cavalcanti Pereira Mota, Danielli Matias de Macedo Dantas, Ranilson de Souza Bezerra, Alfredo Olivera Galvez
Summary: The use of social media platforms has become an important means of communication and information retrieval for users. However, the use of these platforms may have negative effects on individuals' mental health, such as anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and the development of mental illness. Therefore, further research and attention to this issue is warranted.
AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marjorie Cellier, Birte L. Nielsen, Christine Duvaux-Ponter, Hannah B. R. Freeman, Rina Hannaford, Briar Murphy, Emma O'Connor, Kevan R. L. Cote, Heather W. W. Neave, Gosia Zobel
Summary: By studying the feeding habits and preferences of goats, their welfare can be improved. The results showed that goats prefer to eat leaves over grass, and the height and type of feeder can affect their feeding posture and choices.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ping Zhu, Yilin Shen, Xiaowei Li, Xiankai Liu, Guangren Qian, John Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates that the feeding preference of insect larvae to WEEE plastics is influenced by the physical properties and chemical structures of the plastics, and the larvae are capable of partially biodegrading these plastics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Paolo Solari, Viviana Pasquini, Marco Secci, Angelica Giglioli, Roberto Crnjar, Pierantonio Addis
Summary: Research showed that sea urchins are highly sensitive to Spirulina and glucose, but not to fructose and sucrose. Understanding their chemical sensitivity towards potential food-related compounds could improve dietary substrate efficiency.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hao Jin, Z. Hershel Fishman, Mingyu Ye, Li Wang, Charles S. Zuker
Summary: The study reveals the importance of hardwired circuits in the mammalian brain for sweet and bitter responses, which can affect appetitive and aversive behaviors. The brain modulates taste behaviors by controlling these hardwired circuits, with sweet and bitter signals receiving positive and negative feedback in the neural system.
Article
Fisheries
Elisa Benini, Sofia Engrola, Sebastian Nikitas Politis, Sune Riis Sorensen, Anders Nielsen, Luis E. C. Conceicao, Andre Santos, Jonna Tomkiewicz
Summary: The transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding is critical for the survival of fish early life. In this study, the potential benefits of early feeding during the transition from yolk-sac stage to feeding larvae were explored for European eel. Different diets were used and molecular analyses were performed to understand the genes involved in digestive functions and growth. The results showed that early feeding had positive effects on survival, growth, and digestion of the eel larvae.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zheng-Lin Yu, Mei-Jie Yang, Hao Song, Tao Zhang, Xiu-Tang Yuan
Summary: Chemoreception is a crucial sense for animals and plays a vital role in their survival and adaptation to their surroundings. Certain gastropods have become economically important shellfish, while invasive gastropods have caused harm to shellfisheries in various countries. Recent studies have focused on understanding the mechanism of chemoreception in aquatic gastropods. This review summarizes the chemoreception behaviors and mechanisms used by gastropods in aquatic environments, along with molecular and genetic insights. It also discusses the implications of these findings on chemoreception research and shellfish fishery development, highlighting the potential for controlling invasive species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Inoussa Sanane, Judith Legrand, Christine Dillmann, Frederic Marion-Poll
Summary: The study introduced a high throughput leaf-disk consumption assay system for screening plant resistance, utilizing a webcam to capture feeding activities and a computer program for image analysis. Results showed that increasing doses of azadirachtin reduced and delayed larval feeding, while quinine was ineffective at tested concentrations.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Lala Chaimae Naciri, Mariano Mastinu, Roberto Crnjar, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa, Melania Melis
Summary: Several studies have used taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) to evaluate interindividual taste variability and its impact on food preferences, nutrition, and health. In this study, a supervised learning approach was used to automatically identify PROP taster categories. The results showed that the SL approach enables the automatic identification of objective PROP taster status with high precision. Biological features such as perceived taste intensity, fungiform papilla density, and TAS2R38 genotypes were found to be important factors in determining PROP taster status.
Article
Ecology
Cristina M. Crava, Yuriy V. Bobkov, Giorgia Sollai, Gianfranco Anfora, Roberto Crnjar, Alberto Maria Cattaneo
Summary: This study investigated the expression pattern of sensory-related sequences in the maxillae of Papilio hospiton larvae and identified several transcripts involved in taste and olfaction. Furthermore, the study attempted to connect neuronal activity with their molecular bases for diet specialization in closely related Papilio species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Giorgia Sollai, Paolo Solari
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Neeta Y. Yousaf, Guojun Wu, Melania Melis, Mariano Mastinu, Cristina Contini, Tiziana Cabras, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa, Liping Zhao, Yan Y. Lam, Beverly J. Tepper
Summary: This study investigated the effects of a cranberry polyphenol oral rinse on taste perception, salivary proteins, and oral microbiota. The results showed that the rinse can modify the oral microbiome composition in non-tasters and alter specific salivary protein levels, but it does not affect sensory perception.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Melania Melis, Mariano Mastinu, Lala Chaimae Naciri, Patrizia Muroni, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa
Summary: Individual differences in sweet taste sensitivity can impact dietary preferences and nutritional status, with genetic and environmental factors playing a role. Factors such as gender, genetic variants, and PROP phenotype influence sweet taste sensitivity.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Melania Melis, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa, Roberto Crnjar, Giorgia Sollai
Summary: Smell strongly influences food choice and hedonistic evaluation. The Kv1.3 gene's polymorphism has significant effects on olfactory function and BMI. The sex-related differences in olfactory function may be partially attributed to the Kv1.3 gene's polymorphism.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernanda Velluzzi, Andrea Deledda, Mauro Lombardo, Michele Fosci, Roberto Crnjar, Enzo Grossi, Giorgia Sollai
Summary: This study explores the connection between olfactory function and clinical and nutritional aspects related to overweight or obesity. The results show that 65% of patients exhibit hyposmia. Olfactory scores are negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and triglycerides levels, but positively correlated with Mediterranean diet scores. Olfactory function is associated with obesity, metabolic disorders, and male gender, while normosmia is linked to adherence to the Mediterranean diet, normal blood pressure, lipids, and glucose levels.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Roberto Crnjar, Paolo Solari, Giorgia Sollai
Summary: The flavor of foods and beverages is a mixture of volatile compounds, but not all of these compounds impact our senses. The ability to detect specific compounds and perceive odor intensity varies among individuals due to differences in olfactory function. This study used roasted coffee beans as an olfactory stimulus and analyzed the individual components of coffee flavor using Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry. The results showed a correlation between olfactory status and the ability to detect compounds, as well as the intensity of coffee aroma.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Giorgia Sollai, Roberto Crnjar
Summary: Physical activities can counteract the decline of olfactory function, which influences food choices and eating behavior, thereby affecting body weight. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between olfactory function and BMI in elderly individuals, based on their levels of physical, cognitive, and social activities. The results showed that overweight individuals with a non-active lifestyle had lower olfactory scores and higher BMI compared to those with a normal weight and an active lifestyle. Sex differences were evident, with females outperforming males in non-activity, hyposmia, or overweight conditions. There were inverse correlations between BMI and olfactory score, as well as between BMI and hours/week spent on physical activities, for both females and males. These findings suggest that a higher BMI is associated with olfactory dysfunction, lifestyle, and sex differences, and that hyposmia is related to increased body weight. The relationship between BMI and non-exercise physical activities is comparable to that between BMI and exercise physical activities, which is particularly important for individuals with limited mobility.
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Melania Melis, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa, Giorgia Sollai
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lala Chaimae Naciri, Mariano Mastinu, Melania Melis, Tomer Green, Anne Wolf, Thomas Hummel, Iole Tomassini Barbarossa
Summary: Taste sensitivity varies widely in healthy humans and can affect food selection and nutritional status. This study used a supervised learning regression method to analyze taste function in healthy controls and patients with chemosensory loss. The findings suggest that specific taste stimuli can be used in routine clinical assessments to predict overall taste statuses.
Article
Biology
Paolo Solari, Giorgia Sollai, Viviana Pasquini, Angelica Giglioli, Roberto Crnjar, Piero Addis
Summary: This study investigates the chemical sensitivity of the Mediterranean sea urchin to a blue-green alga and several amino acids. The results show that the algae and amino acids have a strong stimulating effect on the sea urchin, suggesting their potential value in sea urchin aquaculture.
