Naučni radovi

Consensus statement from the second RdRp Summit: towards a unified framework for RNA virus biology

2026-06-04T08:05:07Z

Consensus statement from the second RdRp Summit: towards a unified framework for RNA virus biology Lucaci, Alexander G; Shaikh, Hisham; Chong, Li Chong; Tahzima, Rachid; Forgia, Marco; Mansour, Karima; Sakaguchi, Shoichi; Nakagawa, So; Hou, Xin; Demina, Tatiana; Jayaraj Mallika, Fhilmar Raj; Kupczok, Anne; Lytras, Spyros; Debat, Humberto; Charon, Justine; Urzo, Michael; Raco, Milica; Kim, Rachel; Rivero, Ricardo; Karapliafis, Dimitris; Sirkinti, Leyla; Luebbert, Laura; Nishimura, Luca; Chikhi, Rayan; De Coninck, Lander; Charriat, Florian; Soufir, Emma; Gajdov, Vladimir; Krannich, Thomas; Dudas, Gytis; Lood, Cédric; Rodríguez-Ramos, Josue; Pecman, Anja; Neri, Uri; Werner, Almut; Le, Mia; Osundahunsi, Bolaji; Petersen, Nils; Maclot, François; Gutierrez, Serafin; Paraskevopoulou, Sofia; Hillary, Luke; Olendraite, Ingrida RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or RdRp, remains the central molecular hallmark of RNA viruses. It serves as both a universal anchor for virus detection and a critical target for understanding the functional and evolutionary properties of RNA viruses. Since the inaugural RdRp summit in 2023, there have been significant advances in sequencing, structural prediction and artificial intelligence, all of which have accelerated the pace of RNA virus discovery and taxonomic annotation, revealing unprecedented levels of viral diversity, including novel phyla and unique genome architectures. Recent advances include the discovery of novel viral phyla such as Ambiviricota and the application of AI-driven models like LucaProt, highlighting both the rapid expansion of viral diversity and the growing role of machine learning in RNA virus research. The second RdRp summit, which was held in Lisbon in May 2025, gathered a group of research scientists from diverse subfields of virology to address emerging challenges in RNA virus biology. These challenges ranged from standardising annotation and data sharing to harnessing structure-guided phylogenetics and petabyte-scale computational tools. Here, our consensus statement outlines key progress, current and future challenges and community-driven initiatives, including benchmarking, virus-host inference, and ongoing knowledge exchange efforts- all of which are designed to unify the field. Importantly, this statement reflects a clear community consensus and provides concrete recommendations to prioritize standardized benchmarking, structure-informed evolutionary analysis, and reproducible virus–host inference as foundational pillars for advancing RNA virus research. By fostering an environment of sustained collaboration, our efforts aim to build a coherent framework for modern RNA virus biology and to accelerate the exploration of the hidden RNA virosphere.

How the Gender Dimension of One Health Helps Combat Outbreaks of Emerging and Reemerging Zoonotic Diseases: Case Studies

2026-05-29T08:03:03Z

How the Gender Dimension of One Health Helps Combat Outbreaks of Emerging and Reemerging Zoonotic Diseases: Case Studies Savić, Sara; Bagnol, Brigitte; Tomley, Fiona M.; Hamza, Naheeda; Gazu, Lina; Leneman, Marjan; Alders, Robyn G.; Forero-Muñoz, Norma R.; Yustyniuk, Valeriia; Ndoye, Fatou; Ormea, Verónica; Ramadhani Anshar, Amelia; Adhiambo Opondoh, Angela; Wiafe Akenten, Charity; Nduhuura, Elicana; Nabisubi, Patricia; Patel, Krupali; Thys, Séverine; Griffith, Evan F.; Goli, Sumana; Sivaramyapragathi, R.S.; Rouseau, Marianne; Laing, Gabrielle; Garnier, Julie N. When outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases are discussed, little attention is paid to differential gender impacts, or to gender involvement and roles in different settings during the outbreak. Gender roles shape how individuals’ interactions with animals, wildlife, other people and the environment, which influences exposure to zoonotic pathogens. For example, in some rural communities, men may face risks of exposure to emerging pathogens during hunting whilst women who primarily take care of domestic animals may face prolonged exposure to other zoonotic diseases. In some settings, women (and men) lack access to health protection, education or communication with health officials (medical doctors or veterinarians). In some cultures, women are not allowed to speak directly with male service providers, further limiting their access to critical information and services. One Health is a holistic, inclusive approach which should be incorporating a gender lens when considering zoonoses. This includes thinking about the need to create appropriate gender sensitive policies that address disparities in surveillance, response, prevention, detection, and control of the disease (or health issue) being addressed. In this paper, we highlight these issues through several case studies that demonstrate the importance of including gender in zoonotic disease response and, ideally, when implementing prevention measures.

Incorporating Pooled Donkey Milk from Autochthonous Balkan and Banat Donkey Breeds into Traditional Dairy Products: Effects on Technological Properties, Nutritional Profile, and Sensory Acceptability of Podliveni Cheese

2026-05-13T17:12:54Z

Incorporating Pooled Donkey Milk from Autochthonous Balkan and Banat Donkey Breeds into Traditional Dairy Products: Effects on Technological Properties, Nutritional Profile, and Sensory Acceptability of Podliveni Cheese Ljubojević Pelić, Dragana; Vidaković Knežević, Suzana; Popov, Nenad; Knežević, Slobodan; Vranešević, Jelena; Pelić, Miloš; Živkov-Baloš, Milica Podliveni cheese is a traditional fresh cheese produced in Serbia, typically made from fresh cow’s milk. Donkey milk is recognized for its nutritional benefits, particularly its hypoallergenic properties; however, its use in cheese production is partially limited due to its specific protein composition and low casein content. In addition, information in the scientific literature regarding its application in cheese production remains limited. In this study, Podliveni cheese was produced from raw cow’s milk, while in a second experimental group, 30% milk from autochthonous Balkan and Banat donkey breeds was added to obtain a value-added Podliveni cheese. The selected proportion (30%) was based on previous studies using lower inclusion levels (10% and 20%), which demonstrated measurable but limited effects on cheese properties. The technological production process was identical in both groups and is described for each type of cheese. Microbiological parameters analyzed included total lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS), Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. Sensory analysis was conducted using a five-point hedonic scale with a panel of 21 participants (male and female, aged 20–60 years). The following chemical composition parameters were also evaluated: dry matter, fat content, fat in dry matter, fat-free dry matter, protein, ash, pH, and salt. The content of essential minerals and trace elements was determined, including Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, and the Ca/P ratio. The addition of donkey milk significantly affected curd formation, which required six times longer compared to cheese produced exclusively from raw cow’s milk. Furthermore, the inclusion of donkey milk reduced cheese yield and resulted in increased whey separation during storage, indicating reduced water-holding capacity. No statistically significant differences were observed in microbiological parameters, and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) were not detected in either cheese. No significant differences were observed in most sensory attributes, except for texture. Conversely, the inclusion of donkey milk significantly affected the majority of chemical parameters and the mineral composition of the cheese. The addition of donkey milk resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in fat, fat in dry matter, fat-free dry matter, Ca, P, K, Zn, Cu content and the Ca/P ratio, while a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in dry matter, protein, salt, Na, Mg, and Fe content. The incorporation of donkey milk represents an innovative approach that expands the range of traditional cheeses without compromising the absence of tested pathogenic bacteria and preserving traditional production practices, simultaneously offering new value-added products. Further research is required to better understand the health benefits associated with the inclusion of donkey milk in cheese production. This study contributes to expanding knowledge on the use of donkey milk and supports the conservation of autochthonous breeds and the improvement of human health.

Gene expression changes in Daphnia magna following waterborne exposure to cyanobacterial strains from the genus Nostoc

2026-05-10T12:41:09Z

Gene expression changes in Daphnia magna following waterborne exposure to cyanobacterial strains from the genus Nostoc Ddavidović, Petar; Blagojević, Dajana; Lazić, Gospava; Simeunović, Jelica Cyanobacteria can produce highly potent cyanotoxins, however, limited information is provided about their toxicity mechanisms in exposed aquatic invertebrates at the molecular level. In the present study, the effects of cyanobacterial strains from the genus Nostoc (Nostoc Z1 and Nostoc 2S3B) in Daphnia magna after waterborne exposure were investigated. Examined endpoints included immobilization (survival) in acute toxicity tests and selected gene expression changes (cyp314, cyp360A8, gst, p-gp, vtg) analyzed by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine whether the observed changes could be due to the presence of microcystins, the most widespread group of cyanotoxins. The results of acute toxicity tests have shown only minor changes in survival rates, which have not exceeded 20% after 48 h of exposure to either strain. On the other hand, significant changes were recorded in molecular responses of Daphnia to tested strains. Treatment with the aquatic strain Nostoc Z1 altered the expression levels of all analyzed genes. Both strains caused a significant p-glycoprotein (p-gp) induction at 75 μg ml􀀀 1 which suggests the involvement of p-gp mediated multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR) in facilitating excretion of toxic cyanobacterial compounds in daphnids. Additionally, these strains caused an increase in the expression levels of cyp360A8, indicating that genes related to detoxification processes could be sensitive indicators of cyanobacterial toxicity. Statistically significant induction of cyp314, as well as increases in expression of gst and vtg, were observed only after exposure to Nostoc Z1. This study indicates the potential of certain cyanobacterial metabolites to modify the expression of toxicant responsive genes involved in phase I and phase III of the xenobiotic metabolism, as well as possible interference with growth and reproduction in D. magna. Low microcystin concentrations found in both samples suggest that these cyanotoxins were not responsible for the detected toxic effects.