Biogenic nanocomposites are a promising area of advanced materials research, offering multifunctional properties for environmental remediation and antimicrobial therapy, and represent a sustainable frontier. In this study, metabolites from the lichen Parmotrema nilgherrense were used to produce stable Se-CuO nanocomposites with an optical bandgap of 3.12 eV and a negative surface charge (− 38.2 mV). Structural analysis confirmed phase purity and the presence of a bio-organic capping layer. Photocatalytic … Read more... 

Monogenetic basaltic volcanoes, the most common volcano type on Earth, produce rock surfaces with diverse morphological and textural characteristics promoting wide biodiversity. We assess ecological colonization related to volcanic rock bioreceptivity for biological rock crust communities on Xitle volcano (Mexico City). We assessed the five main volcanic geoforms present: crater, lava tube, promontory, crevasse wall and flat lobe. Climatic conditions (insolation, altitude, humidity, temperature) … Read more... 

Background: Dutch elm disease (DED), caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, has devastated elm species in Europe and North America for over a century. While the Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) frequently displays notable resistance to DED, the European wych elm (Ulmus glabra) remains highly susceptible. Understanding microbiome interaction and epigenetic factors might help to explain this contrasting resilience and subsequently improve disease management. Results: Seedlings of both elm species … Read more... 

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), driven by progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and impaired insulin secretion, is a major global health burden, and new antidiabetic leads with β-cell-protective potential are needed. The sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1), which gates ATP-sensitive potassium channels controlling pancreatic β-cell insulin release, is a validated but still underexploited antidiabetic drug target. Natural products derived from lichens and their associated endolichenic fungi (ELF) … Read more... 

Measuring growth dynamics has been fundamental to understanding lichen biology and ecology. In this integrative analysis, I synthesize and reanalyze published data on three-dimensional growth in the foliose cephalolichen Lobaria pulmonaria transplanted in pristine North American forests, encompassing thallus area expansion, biomass accumulation, thallus thickening, and reproductive investment across multiple environmental gradients. Best subset regression selection and linear mixed models were applied … Read more...