Introduction: Previous studies have stated that parasites comprise half of all species on Earth but may be greatly underestimated due to the slow rate of their discovery. Conserving parasite biodiversity is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of biodiversity conservation. Parasite biodiversity too deserves attention and conservation like other forms of biological diversity. In this review, diverse aspects concerning parasite biodiversity conservation are addressed and discussed.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature involving findings from scientific papers, reports, and the relevant literature across disciplines such as parasitology, ecology, and conservation biology.

Results:

The first major aspect is the negligence of parasite diversity for conservation in spite of its immense significance in terms of ecosystem health, species interactions, nutrient cycling, and indicators of environmental change.

The second major aspect is various reasons creating obstacles to the conservation of parasite diversity, which include their negative perception, a lack of awareness about their ecological roles, their under-representation in conservation textbooks and courses, methodological challenges in studying and monitoring parasite diversity, limited funding, and the complex interactions of parasites and hosts.

The third major aspect is about strategies and approaches for effective conservation of parasite biodiversity, which requires interdisciplinary approaches involving parasitology, ecology, conservation biology, and public health and collaboration with local communities, stakeholders, and policymakers. Conservational strategies involve habitat preservation, sustainable resource management, management of host populations, minimizing anthropogenic impacts, raising awareness, and targeted research. Some proposed strategies include a global plan for parasite conservation, a hypothetical global parasite project, a decision tree for integrating parasites into conservation planning, etc.

Conclusions: Although parasite biodiversity conservation is challenging, it is essential for ecosystem stability, effective disease management, monitoring of ecosystem disturbances, and knowledge advancement. This review concludes that focusing on these aspects of biodiversity conservation and implementing conservation strategies is crucial for acknowledging parasite diversity and preventing parasite extinction.

Staurozoa is a unique group of stalked jellyfish, whose taxonomy has been significantly revised over the past two decades. However, phylogenetic relationships within the genera remain poorly understood, and the most numerous and problematic genus is Haliclystus, with 13 species, some of which have questionable validity. The current study aims to investigate the diversity and phylogeny of Haliclystus species in the northern seas, using both morphological and molecular methods.

The specimens of Haliclystus were collected in the White, Barents, Okhotsk, and Japan Seas in 2022-2024. Their morphometric characteristics, rhopalioid shape and size, and cnidocysts arrangement were analyzed for morphological analysis. For the molecular analysis, COI, ITS, and 16S gene regions were sequenced.

As a result of morphological analysis, we identified two species with confidence: Haliclystus auricula (White Sea and Barents Sea) and H. tenuis (Sea of Japan). Three specimens from the Okhotsk Sea and the Sea of Japan have not been identified.

The resulting phylogenetic trees generally correspond to morphological identifications. Specimens of H. auricula from the White and Barents Seas form a single clade with species of H. auricula from the North Sea. The closest sister branch to the H. auricula clade is presented by the H. antarcticus species from the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Specimens of H. tenuis from the Sea of Japan are combined with specimens of H. tenuis collected in the North Sea and on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido. Unidentified samples from the Okhotsk and Japan Seas form two separate clusters that do not overlap with the available sequences from GenBank, and therefore may potentially be undescribed species. Our findings suggest two major groups, Atlantic-oriented and Pacific-oriented, with some specimens challenging this geographical classification. To establish phylogeographic relationships within the genus Haliclystus, it is necessary to extend studies using more samples.

The taxonomy, anatomy, and biological features of free-living flatworms of the phylum Plathelmintes from the White Sea (Russia) have been studied poorly, and their diversity is greatly underestimated. The main obstacle to this is their challenging identification and the miniature sizes of considerable number of representatives of the phylum, microturbellarians’ in particular. Microturbellarians of the genus Monocelis (Proseriata) are tremendously numerous in the littoral zone of the vicinity of the White Sea biological station of Moscow state university, and are represented, according to previous studies, by only two species - M. lineata (Müller, 1773) and M. fusca (Örsted, 1843). However, not all specimens examined during recent work match the characteristic features of the registred species.
Current research on Monocelis sp. specimens from the White Sea was carried out using an integrative taxonomic approach. We paied special attention to the significant variability of the worms’ coloration. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the 18S gene and the 28S fragment sequences of the Monocelis sp. specimens, five clades were identified. These groups also were confirmed as candidate species by morphological features, including coloration, body proportions, structural features, and relative arrangements of the reproductive system parts. Also, we have obtained the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome for one group for the development of universal primers.
The structure of the copulatory organ turned out to be the most important taxonomic feature: each identified group has a unique structure to the others. This feature gives us reason to assume the existence of reproductive isolation, which allows for the coexistence of several closely related species within one local biotope.

This work was carried out with the support of an RSF grant (No21-74-20028).

The problem of researching the microbial biodiversity of the surfaces of wet wipes that have become garbage is gaining relevance due to the increased global consumption of wet wipes and the development of biotechnological approaches to waste processing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze data from the literature regarding the variety of types of micro-organisms that were isolated from the surface of the material of wet wipes and the potential possibilities of their use as biodestructors in the biotechnological process of disposal and utilization of these wastes. The methods of theoretical research based on available information, analysis of scientific and methodical sources on this problem, the empirical method of accumulating facts, and the method of argumentation for proving one's own judgments were used. The existence of micro-organisms on the surface of the material of wet wipes was considered, focusing on their ability to form a biofilm. It was shown that the microbiota of the surface/biofilm of the material of wet wipes is mainly characterized by representatives of heterotrophic micro-organisms that are involved in the cycles of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus. At the same time, the topic of microbial biodiversity of the surface of wet wipes which have become garbage is rarely studied and is only investigated in a few publications. Currently, the involvement of active bacteria destructors in the processes of the disposal of wet wipes is an eco-friendly way of eliminating environmental pollution by these man-made products. Further research should focus on both the analysis of the total microbial biodiversity of the surface/biofilm microbiota of wet wipes and on the anaerobic representatives, in particular sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as those involved in the biogeochemical cycle of Sulfur.

Honey's antioxidant effects stem from its phenolic constituents, which protect human cells and the bloodstream upon consumption. The antioxidant capacity of honey varies based on its floral source, with darker-colored honey possessing greater antioxidant activity due to its higher phenolic content. These phenolic components are also linked to honey’s anti-inflammatory qualities, as honey can interrupt inflammatory mediators and decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Consequently, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of honey are intrinsically connected. Certain honeys are used in treating wounds, burns, and ulcers due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties. However, the systemic effects of honey when consumed orally remain understudied. Honey, a primary product of beekeeping has been consumed by humans since ancient times. Plant nectar, produced by glands in flowers, is necessary for honey production. The productive microbiota of honey bees and their enzyme, invertase, convert nectar into honey through enzymatic processes. The fermentation process turns honey into a postbiotic substance. Bees stimulate the enzyme glucose oxidase, converting glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which are crucial for honey’s taste and biological functions. Given these characteristics, honey should be recognized as a natural metabiotic (postbiotic) substance for treating various health conditions. Funding: The study is supported by the IDB RAS Government's basic research program in 2024 (No. 0088-2024-0009).

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the PhoA family is an important enzyme in eukaryotes and certain gut and marine bacteria; it plays a crucial role in the detoxification of intestinal microbiome lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and excess of extracellular nucleotides, which overstimulate cell signaling and cause tissue inflammation in a host. Insufficient levels of this enzyme have been linked to several disorders in humans. This study aims at producing a recombinant PhoA (rec-PhoA) from the marine bacterium C. amphilecti KMM 296 in transiently transformed leaves of N. benthamiana and stably transformed N. tabacum, as well as elucidating its physical and chemical properties and anti-inflammatory potential. Nicotiana spp. have proven to be versatile and are extensively used as heterologous hosts in molecular farming. The alp gene was cloned into binary vectors pEff and pHREAC restricted with AscI, SmaI, and BsaI enzymes, respectively, and then incorporated into N. benthamiana leaves by means of agro-infiltration and into N. tabacum following the leaf disc method using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 strain. The enzymatic activity of rec-PhoA from the transformed plants was confirmed in the leaves' lysate after purification using a metal-affinity column (Ni²⁺-IMAC-Sepharose) and, subsequently, Source-15Q ion-exchange sorbent (GE Healthcare). The purified rec-PhoA was visualized on SDS-PAGE as a 55 kDa band corresponding to the mature protein. The enzyme rec-PhoA was relatively thermostable and retained its activity at 15 - 45 ℃ up to 1 hr, with the highest activity in Tris HCl (pH 9.0–11.0) at 35 ℃, 40 min. It was salt-tolerant and divalent metal-dependent; Mn²⁺ and Mg²⁺ enhanced its activity. This study established that the plant-based expression of C. amphilecti PhoA in Nicotiana spp. is an appropriate method for the production of a pharma-grade LPS-free recombinant enzyme. This can be further explored for the cost-effective and massively scalable production of LPS-detoxifying ALP, for possible applications in human and animal therapy, as well as in plant growth promotion and biocontrol.

Water quality monitoring using data on the biodiversity of living organisms has been employed for a long time. A saprobic system based on lists of organic pollution indicator species has been developed for freshwaters, but one has not yet been established for marine waters. Benthic diatoms and cyanobacteria are known bioindicators. The aim of this study was to assess the diversity of benthic diatoms and cyanobacteria in the epilithon of the three areas with different levels of eutrophication in Sevastopol Bay, Black Sea, for their use in general water quality assessment. The pollution of three areas of the bay was determined according to long-term hydrochemical data, as follows: Martynova Bay (MB)—relatively clean, Inkerman Bay (IB)—moderately polluted, Yuzhnaya Bay (YuB)—heavily polluted. The following indices of diversity were determined: Margalef (D), Shannon (H), Berger–Parker (IBP). The saprobic index was calculated according to Pantle and Buck's (S) method modified by Sládeček, using species significance indices (s) from the literature.

A total of 63 diatoms and 20 cyanobacteria species were found in Sevastopol Bay; among them, 21 and 6 were saprobionts, respectively. Based on diversity indices, it was found that the most favorable conditions for both diatoms (H=2.65; D=7.67; IBP=0.28) and cyanobacteria (H=1.83; D=2.2; IBP = 0.25) were in MB. The worst conditions were formed in the YuB: for diatoms, H=2.24; D=5.17; IBP=0.28; for cyanobacteria, H=1.04; D=0.67; IBP=0.5.

The diatom saprobic index showed that waters of MB are β-mesosaprobic: S_MB = 1.9. Meanwhile, S_YuB = 2.2 (β-α-mesosaprobic) and S_IB=2.5 (α-mesosaprobic). Therefore, the IB area is the most polluted, which is not in accordance with the obtained diversity indices and hydrochemical data. For cyanobacteria, the results of the estimations were also not consistent. Consequently, it is necessary to create a checklist of diatoms and cyanobacteria to calculate indices of indicator species with consideration of regional features.

One of the fundamental aspects of evolutionary biology is understanding genome organization and its functional aspects that directly or indirectly act in concert with the adaptability of any organism. The evolution of chromosome size, number, and structure, as well as changes in DNA composition, suggest the high plasticity of nuclear genomes at the chromosomal level. Hence, chromosomal information on chromosomal complements bears significant importance in plant breeding and genetic studies, including genome analysis. Regardless of the prime focus on the mulberry crop, the understanding of its ploidy variation and ploidy-associated traits is lacking, which hinders the development of strategies for its systematic improvement and conservation. In the present research, with the execution of classical cytology, the chromosome numbers of 20 mulberry accessions (Morus spp.) have been estimated using shoot tip meristems. Chromosomal complements accounted for definitive intraspecific variation at ploidy levels such as diploid (2n=2x=28), triploid (2n=3x=42), tetraploid (2n=4x=56), and hexaploid (2n=6x=84) among the studied species (M. alba, M. australis, M. bombycis, M. cathayana, M. indica, M. laevigata, M. latifolia, M. macroura, M. rotundiloba, and M. serrata). Additionally, flow cytometry analysis was performed for the validation of chromosomal data. To identify ploidy-associated traits, different functional traits were studied. Principal component analysis (PCA) and heat map analysis indicate the positive impact of genome duplication on leaf anatomical traits. Further consideration of below-ground traits will require in-depth understanding. Moreover, the present outcomes of intraspecific ploidy variation and identified ploidy-associated traits provide a platform and open windows for frontier omics approaches to improve the mulberry crop in the near future.

Introduction

The study of forest biodiversity, productivity and dynamics is one of the priority areas of forest ecology and forest science in many countries. At the same time, the understorey layers are still insufficiently studied. The aim of this work is to study the interactions between the stand and the herb layer in order to develop predictive graphical models.

Methods

Genetic forest typology [1] and generally accepted methods of studying forest vegetation [2] are chosen as the methodological basis. We have studied the most widespread and productive forest type in the South Urals (Russia): moss spruce forest. Primary dark coniferous forests and secondary birch and aspen forests of different compositions and ages were studied.

Results

The studies carried out confirmed our null hypothesis regarding the possibility of modelling the species diversity and biomass of the herb layer according to the structure and age of the stand. All the criteria studied: the species richness of the plant community, the biomass of the herb layer, as well as the α-diversity estimated on the basis of diversity indices, showed a high sensitivity to the age and composition of the stand.

Conclusions

The models we have developed can be combined with remote sensing data to provide large-scale data on difficult-to-measure but important characteristics: the biodiversity and biomass of the herb layer.

Funding

This research was funded by the state assignment of the Institute Botanic Garden, the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

References

1. Ivanova, N.; Fomin, V.; Kusbach, A. Experience of Forest Ecological Classification in Assessment of Vegetation Dynamics. Sustainability 2022, 14, 3384. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063384
2. Ivanova, N. Research Methods of Timber-Yielding Plants (in the Example of Boreal Forests). In Biology, Productivity and Bioenergy of Timber-Yielding Plants; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2017; pp. 121–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61798-5_2

Bacteria take an active part in the degradation of polymer materials, as they have high biochemical activity and are able to form biofilms. In order to expand our knowledge about the soil bacterial biodiversity on the surface of artificial materials from the soil of Chernihiv (Ukraine), in this study, the bacterial strain PET1 was isolated from the biofilm formed on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottle material taken from the soil. The strain was isolated and purified on Postgate’s “C” medium and modified by us (using poly(ethylene terephthalate) as the only source of carbon). The following methods were used in the research: 1) microbiological: inoculation in a liquid medium, inoculation in a solid medium, morphological analysis of the micro-organisms’ colonies, methods of staining bacterial cells and their structures (according to Gram in Kalina’s modification, endospores according to Hansen), and methods of determining physiological and biochemical properties (catalase and oxidase tests); 2) molecular genetic: DNA isolation from bacterial cells, polymerase chain reaction with primers to the 16S rRNA gene, 16S rDNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis using the GenBank database and the MEGA 11 computer program. It was established that the bacterial cells of the isolate PET1 are Gram-negative short rods with rounded ends, single or in pairs; do not form spores; are mobile; and exhibit fast helical movement. The bacteria are catalase- and oxidase-positive. On the dendrogram of genetic similarity, the strain PET1 entered the same group as Achromobacter xylosoxidans strains. Therefore, the PET1 strain was identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans based on a complex of microbiological and molecular genetic features. Bacteria of the species A. xylosoxidans belong to risk group 2 (according to the German Technical Regulations for biological agents) and can be used during scientific research on the biodegradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate).