Mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) in soils constitutes the largest terrestrial carbon pool and the primary reservoir of soil nitrogen. Mineral protection, by encapsulating and binding organic matter to restrict microbial accessibility, is expected to buffer MAOM against decomposition and reduce its sensitivity to global changes. Yet this assumed stability is increasingly questioned by empirical observations. Increasing evidence indicates that MAOM comprises a multi-pool continuum, with a substantial fraction rapidly cycling and some fraction being sensitive to biotic or abiotic perturbations under global changes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how global change factors may alter MAOM dynamics, including MAOM formation and destabilization, as well as the implications of altered MAOM dynamics for soil carbon persistence. We highlight future research directions and propose strategies to balance the stabilization of slow-cycling MAOM and the maintenance of a viable fast-cycling MAOM pool to support nutrient cycling and plant productivity. Advancing this knowledge requires recognizing MAOM dynamics in soil management and developing mechanistic frameworks that integrate rhizosphere interactions, alongside biological and mineral controls, to better predict MAOM variations under global changes.
Climate change poses significant threats to biodiversity, altering species survival and interactions within diverse ecological networks. In this systematic review, we synthesized current knowledge on climate change impacts on arboreal mammals and identified gaps, biases, and future opportunities in research. Following PRISMA guidelines, we identified 142 studies spanning 33 countries. We identified significant phylogenetic and geographic gaps in knowledge, revealing that large proportions of taxa remain unstudied or under-represented. Australia and South America were the most frequently studied countries; however, considering the high diversity of arboreal mammals in these regions, this research focus remains inadequate. The koala and greater glider were major focal animals of climate change studies. The order Diprotodontia was the most studied (46%), followed by Primates (23%). Conversely, studies focusing on the orders Chiroptera, Pilosa, and Microbiotheria, as well as research conducted in Africa and Europe, were noticeably underrepresented. Extreme temperature was found to be the main driver behind many negative impacts on arboreal mammals. Meta-analysis revealed that several arboreal mammal families are projected to experience significant future range contractions, particularly Pseudocheiridae, Cercopithecidae, and Tarsiidae. Conservation practitioners should target areas that ensure both climatic and ecological suitability for species survival in future climate scenarios, prioritising highly vulnerable species. Current research highlights the critical need for habitat protection, restoration, and management, identification of climate and thermal refugia, and conducting more species-specific research. Future research should focus on expanding to underrepresented taxa and regions, conducting more longitudinal studies in well-studied taxa and regions, investigating multiple climate drivers, and considering multiple species where appropriate, to enhance our understanding of climate change impacts on arboreal mammals.
Urbanization is a major global driver of biodiversity change, with species responses to urban settings ranging from avoidance to exploitation. To better understand these responses, we conducted a global analysis of urban relative affinity inferred from occurrence data across more than 30,000 animal and plant species. Our synthesis showed a consistent pattern across taxa and biogeographic regions: many species are urban avoiders, while few thrive as urban exploiters-a pattern we coin 'species urbanness distribution'. We then assessed whether body size, an integrative ecological trait fundamental to space use, mobility, metabolism, and environmental sensitivity, showed consistent associations with urban affinity among species and across 371 taxonomic families. Analyses were conducted at the interspecific level and focused primarily on variation among taxonomic families (with an accompanying application to view results available for each family here: https://globalecologyresearchgroup.github.io/Callaghan_et_al-2026-eLife-ShinyApp/). Larger body sizes were generally associated with greater urban affinity in plants compared to animals, though these size-affinity relationships showed considerable variability among families. Our findings highlight the heterogeneous relationship between body size and urban affinity across the tree of life, underscoring the importance of tailored strategies to support urban biodiversity. This research advances ecological understanding of urban filtering and provides a framework for guiding biodiversity-sensitive urban planning amid accelerating global urbanization. Urbanization is often assumed to be harmful to plants and animals. And while many species disappear from cities, others survive or even thrive. Scientists have spent decades trying to understand why. One idea is that body size plays an important role because it influences how species move, find food, compete and cope with changing environments. For example, a large bird can easily move in and out of urban areas, whereas a small beetle may be effectively trapped within the city. However, previous studies have focused on only a few groups of organisms or a handful of cities, making it difficult to identify broad patterns. By examining more than 30,000 species from around the world, Callaghan et al. asked whether body size consistently helps explain which species succeed in urban environments. The researchers found that most species avoid cities, while only a relatively small number thrive in them. Body size mattered, but not in the same way for every group. Larger plant species were generally more likely to tolerate urban environments, whereas the relationship in animals was much more variable. Some animal groups showed the opposite pattern, while many showed little relationship at all. This suggests there is no single recipe for urban success. To help others explore these patterns, Callaghan et al. created an interactive that allows users to examine results for their favourite groups, from moths and birds to orchids. As cities continue to expand worldwide, understanding which species are likely to persist is becoming increasingly important. The results of Callaghan et al. show that body size can help explain urban affinity in some groups, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. Explaining why species succeed or fail in cities will require considering many different traits and ecological processes. To support future research, the researchers also provided openly accessible, region-specific urban affinity scores for more than 30,000 species. Together, these resources provide a framework for developing and testing new ideas about how urbanization shapes biodiversity.
In the phase 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT; NCT03355209) of fenfluramine in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), patients in fenfluramine treatment groups (0.2 mg/kg/day, 0.7 mg/kg/day) experienced greater reduction from baseline in frequency of seizures associated with a fall versus placebo, which was sustained in the open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT03355209). In this post hoc analysis, trajectories of fenfluramine effectiveness and safety, along with dose changes over time, are described for patients with LGS randomized to placebo in RCT who switched to fenfluramine in OLE (PBO-FFA) and those who received fenfluramine in both RCT/OLE (FFA-FFA). Among patients who completed 12 months in OLE (N = 151), numerical improvements in effectiveness outcomes were seen in the PBO-FFA group (n = 59) after initiating fenfluramine and were similar to those in the FFA-FFA group (n = 92). Regression to the mean was not observed in the PBO-FFA group, suggesting that changes were due to fenfluramine. Incidence of the most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events increased in the PBO-FFA group after fenfluramine initiation but decreased in the FFA-FFA group in OLE. These data demonstrate rapid improvement in seizure frequency and global functioning in both groups with continued clinical improvement as the mean fenfluramine dose was increased. These results confirm that sustained fenfluramine treatment is effective and tolerable. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study assessed the change over time in the number of seizures, overall improvement, and side effects in patients with LGS receiving placebo (no active medicine) or fenfluramine in a 14-week study; all patients later received fenfluramine in the extension study. Overall, the number of seizures (associated with a fall) decreased once patients initially receiving placebo changed to fenfluramine (optimal effect around Month 4 while receiving a higher dose), but as expected, common side effects were reported more frequently once patients began fenfluramine treatment. Patients, parents, and doctors should be aware of this time course to allow fenfluramine enough time to work.
Climate change is disrupting myriad biological processes, including the ability of species to synchronize life-history events with optimal environmental conditions, with potential fitness impacts. Changes in migratory and breeding phenology and their consequences on fitness have been well studied in birds and some mammals. By contrast, changes in the phenology of overwinter sheltering and their influence on fitness have rarely been investigated. Pregnant female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) spend the winter fasting in a maternity den where they give birth and nurse their cubs until emergence in early spring. To sustain their fast, females rely on energy stores built primarily through consumption of ice-associated seals. Here, we assess the impact of sea-ice loss driven by climate change on early reproductive success acting through disrupted denning phenology and other unspecified factors. To do so, we develop a Bayesian hierarchical model combining capture-recapture and path modeling. We apply it to 38 years of capture-recapture data along with biologging data on denning status and phenology, while accounting for imperfect detection and uncertainty in individual denning schedules. We found that low sea-ice availability led to earlier den emergence, which in turn reduced early litter survival and possibly litter size. By contrast, there was little evidence that sea-ice availability affected early reproductive success through pathways independent of denning phenology (e.g., litter mass). Considering both direct and indirect effects, low sea-ice availability reduced early litter survival but not the size of surviving litters. Given the strong link between sea-ice conditions and body condition in female polar bears, we conclude that sea-ice loss exerts an energetic constraint on denning females, forcing them to depart from dens early, which jeopardizes their cubs, ultimately reducing maternal fitness. Similar impacts of climate change may occur in other species where phenology is determined by body condition. Le changement climatique perturbe de nombreux mécanismes biologiques, notamment la capacité d'espèces à synchroniser des évènements de leur histoire de vie avec les conditions environnementales optimales, ce qui peut avoir des conséquences sur leur valeur sélective. Les changements de phénologie de la migration et de la reproduction, et leurs conséquences sur la valeur sélective sont bien étudiés chez les oiseaux et certains mammifères. En revanche, les changements dans la phénologie d'hivernage dans un abris ont rarement été étudiés. Les ourses polaires (Ursus maritimus) enceintes passent l'hiver dans une tanière de maternité. Elles y donnent naissance et allaitent leurs oursons, avant d'en sortir au début du printemps. Durant leur jeûne, les femelles consomment des réserves d'énergies qu'elles ont constituées principalement en se nourrissant de phoques associés à la banquise. Dans cette étude, nous évaluons l'impact de la réduction de la banquise sur le succès reproducteur des ourses polaires au travers de la phénologie de l'hivernage en tanière de maternité, et d'autres facteurs non‐spécifiés. Pour cela, nous développons un modèle hiérarchique combinant la modélisation par capture–recapture et l'analyse de chemin dans un cadre Bayésien. Nous appliquons ce modèle à 38 années de données de suivi par capture–recapture et de suivi des hivernages en tanière par biologging, tout en tenant compte de la détection imparfaite et de l'incertitude qui entoure la phénologie de nombre d'hivernages en tanière de maternité. Nous montrons qu'une faible disponibilité de banquise cause un départ précoce de la tanière, ce qui réduit la probabilité de survie précoce de la portée d'oursons, et potentiellement le nombre d'oursons par portée survivante. En revanche, il n'y a guère d'indications que la disponibilité de banquise affecte le succès reproducteur précoce à travers d'autres mécanismes (comme la masse des oursons par exemple). En tenant compte des effets direct et indirects, la réduction de la banquise affecte négativement la probabilité de survie précoce des portées d'oursons, mais pas le nombre d'oursons par portée survivante. Étant donné le lien qui existe entre la disponibilité de banquise et la condition corporelle des ourses polaires, nous en concluons que la réduction de la banquise exerce une contrainte énergétique sur les ourses polaires, les forçant à émerger précocement de leur tanière de maternité au risque de perdre leurs oursons. De telles réductions de la valeur sélective dus à des changements phénologiques en réponse au changement climatique sont susceptibles de se produire dans d'autres système où la phénologie d'événements importants est dictée par la condition corporelle.
Climate change is disproportionately warming the Arctic, leading to changes in weather patterns that affect breeding phenology for many Arctic species. Despite extensive research on non-predatory birds, few studies have examined the impacts of climate change on higher trophic levels, especially those comparing breeding phenology and productivity between migratory and resident species. Our study used long-term monitoring data from 11 sites monitoring migratory peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and 9 sites monitoring resident gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus) across the circumpolar Arctic. We used remotely sensed environmental data to explore how environmental conditions affect breeding phenology and productivity for both species. We analyzed 5546 peregrine and 2241 gyrfalcon hatch records and observed earlier hatch dates at 5 of 9 gyrfalcon sites and 4 of 11 peregrine sites. In the Low Arctic, peregrines advanced hatch dates by 0.41 days/decade and gyrfalcons by 1.62 days/decade, whereas in the Sub Arctic, we observed a trend toward later hatch dates for gyrfalcons. Greater spring temperatures and vegetation greenness consistently resulted in earlier hatch dates for both species. Earlier snowmelt was linked to earlier hatch dates for peregrines and higher productivity for both species. Our data suggest that long-distance migrating peregrines advance their phenology less than resident gyrfalcons, aligning with other studies showing that long-distance migrants possess more fixed annual schedules and are less likely to align with variations in spring green-up compared to residents. Contrary to our hypothesis, greater summer temperatures reduced productivity in both species. Given our findings, we recommend more detailed research on how summer temperatures affect productivity, as nestlings could suffer higher mortality from heat prostration than previously anticipated. Our findings indicate that while climate change affects breeding timing and productivity, the impact varies, suggesting increased weather variability could lead to more unpredictable responses in falcon breeding ecology in the Arctic.
Research has highlighted persistent obstacles to the professionalization of the genetic counseling profession (GCp). This study aims to capture international experts' reflections on shared and anticipated global challenges in the near-term and how they perceive the GCp evolving worldwide. A qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 23 GCp experts involved in professionalization processes across diverse countries/regions worldwide. Online interviews, conducted between late 2023 and early 2025, were flexible and participant-led, and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were constructed: (a) Drivers of professionalization centred on the persistent lack of formal recognition, the importance of accreditation and registration frameworks, the need for governmental and institutional support, and the heterogeneity of integration and resources across regions; (b) Expansion and sustainability of the genetic counseling workforce reflected concerns about the shortage of trained professionals facing high workload and demand, continuing professional development, sustainable career pathways, and the need to raise visibility and build a culture of evidence-based practice; (c) Evolving roles and scope of practice captured balancing expanding responsibilities with preserving professional identity, overcoming misconceptions, and integrating technological change; (d) Ethical and societal challenges encompassed equity of access to genetic services, navigating ethical complexities, and harmonizing practice while embracing contextual and cultural adaptation. This study contributes to clarifying shared priorities and potential areas for collective action. While meaningful progress is underway worldwide, substantial work remains. Global collaboration and cohesion are revealed as fundamental strategies. GCp is still becoming: advancing through ongoing negotiation of recognition, identity, and standards across diverse systems. We spoke with genetic counseling leaders from different parts of the world about the main challenges facing the profession. They described ongoing efforts to achieve formal recognition, strengthen the workforce, clarify professional roles, and address ethical issues such as equitable access to services. Overall, our findings suggest that genetic counseling is still developing, and that continued global collaboration will be key to its future growth.
Animal populations are exposed to environmental variation through yearly and seasonal fluctuations, as well as human-induced rapid environmental change. Social behaviour has received growing attention as a potentially important but underappreciated mechanism for resilience to environmental changes. Social interactions shape access to resources, information, protection from predators and opportunities for reproduction. They can also influence how individuals experience and respond to environmental stressors, which relates to the concept of social buffering, a pattern where sociality attenuates the detrimental effects of stressors on individual and population fitness. Such ideas have typically been examined using biogeographic analyses to test whether social living is more prevalent in harsh environments. However, there may also be variation in social behaviour within populations and within an individual's lifespan that serves to maintain or even enhance fitness during environmental changes. In this Special Feature, we present a collection of contributions examining the role of social interactions in maintaining fitness in the face of adverse effects across mammal, reptile and insect species. These studies were conducted under laboratory and field conditions and in response to a wide range of ecological factors, including predation risk, food abundance and interspecific competition. Collectively, we see that social behaviour interacts with environmental variation through multiple pathways, and these behavioural adjustments can have consequences for individual fitness and scale up to affect population performance. Lastly, we offer suggestions for future research directions to address remaining knowledge gaps and advance our understanding of the links between environmental variation, social behaviour, fitness outcomes and population persistence. Such work has the potential to provide valuable insights for management and conservation efforts, which is critically important in a rapidly changing world.
Island endemic terrestrial vertebrates, shaped by long-term isolation and ecological specialization, are particularly vulnerable to extinction pressure in the Anthropocene. However, cross-taxon extinction patterns and their drivers remain poorly understood. Here, we compiled a global dataset of 31,865 terrestrial vertebrates, including more than 7500 island endemic species, to evaluate the patterns and drivers of extinction risk in island endemics, in comparison with continent endemics and dual-range species. We found that island endemics face significantly higher extinction risk than non-island endemics, with 3.1% extinct and 34% currently threatened since 1500 CE. Extinction risk among island endemics is unevenly distributed and taxonomically structured, tightly linked to invasive species, overexploitation, and climate change. Compared with continent endemics and dual-range species, their elevated risk is closely associated with small range size and habitat specialization, while biological traits, climate, and anthropogenic pressures also exert taxon-specific effects. These findings explain the unique vulnerability of island endemic vertebrates and inform conservation priorities across island ecosystems.
Soil salinisation poses a formidable threat to global agricultural productivity. It induces osmotic stress, ion toxicity and systemic oxidative damage in crops. Breeding salt-tolerant varieties is time-consuming. This creates an urgent need for rapid and sustainable agronomic interventions. Algae and their bioactive extracts, such as polysaccharides, phytohormones and polyols, act as potent biostimulants and biofertilizers. They effectively function as exogenous elicitors. This review synthesises the multidimensional interactions between algae and plant defence systems under salt stress. We evaluate how compounds derived from algae orchestrate plant tolerance to salt. They bypass or synergise with endogenous signalling pathways to reprogramme transcriptional networks. We delineate the mechanisms underpinning ionic homoeostasis mediated by algae. These include SOS pathway modulation, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and hormonal crosstalk through pathways dependent on or independent of ABA. Furthermore, we critically compare algae extracts with other biostimulant classes and dissect their crop-specific efficacies under multifactorial combined stress scenarios. The focus then shifts from molecular paradigms to agricultural applications. Integrating algae into soil microbiomes and broader soil remediation strategies significantly enhances rhizosphere health. Translating these advances from controlled laboratory conditions to efficacy at the field scale remains a prominent bottleneck. We highlight current knowledge gaps and propose future trajectories, including multiple omics integration, synthetic biology, precision agriculture integration, and nanoscale delivery systems. These approaches will help fully harness the potential of the algae and plant holobiont for agriculture adapted to climate change.
Cyanophages are emerging as key regulators of freshwater cyanobacterial blooms, affecting host mortality, community succession, nutrient cycling, and cyanotoxin dynamics. Understanding how climate change impacts these interactions is crucial for predicting bloom persistence and developing robust ecological frameworks to forecast how freshwater ecosystems will respond as the climate warms.
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Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a slowly progressive X-linked neuromuscular disorder for which disease-modifying therapies are under investigation. SBMA Functional Rating Scale (SBMAFRS), its subscale (mSBMAFRS), and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) are commonly used trial endpoints, but thresholds for clinically meaningful change remain undefined. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) estimates are needed to interpret longitudinal outcomes and inform trial design. We retrospectively analysed ambulatory, genetically confirmed SBMA patients. Eighty consecutive visit pairs from 44 patients included concurrent Global Rating of Change (GRC) assessments, and 47 visit pairs from 30 patients included concurrent 6MWT data. At follow-up, patients rated overall change since the previous visit on a 3‑level GRC (unchanged, slightly worse, much worse). Anchor-based MCIDs for worsening were derived from differences in change scores between GRC categories and compared with distribution-based estimates (0.5 baseline standard deviation). Sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo resampling assessed robustness. Anchor‑based MCID estimates for worsening were -1.13 and -1.46 points for the SBMAFRS total score, -0.53 and -1.09 points for the mSBMAFRS, and -34.5 and -32.4 m for the 6MWT. The mSBMAFRS showed the most consistent gradient across GRC categories and remained significant in sensitivity analyses. Distribution‑based MCIDs (2.30, 1.42 points and 61.85 m, respectively) were consistently larger than anchor‑based values. Age, disease duration, and CAG repeat length did not predict perceived worsening. These data provide the first patient‑anchored MCID estimates for SBMA outcome measures, support use of the mSBMAFRS, and offer thresholds for responder definitions and sample-size calculations in future SBMA trials.
Lipidome alterations are linked to neurodegenerative disorders, but the association between calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)-related lipid ratios, which reflect pro-resolving and pro-inflammatory lipid biology, and age-related cognitive decline remains unclear. In postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex samples from participants in the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (lipidomics n = 191; transcriptomics n = 411), we quantified three ratios of cPLA2-released fatty acid precursors (primary exposures), three indices of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, and two AA transcriptomic activation scores (secondary exposures). Global cognition (primary outcome) and five cognitive domains were derived from annual neuropsychological testing. In mixed-effect change point models (death-age, sex, education, and apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOEε4)-adjusted), higher brain eicosapentaenoic acid/AA was associated with better global cognition proximate-to-death (β = 0.254, 95% CI [0.064-0.455]) and a slower rate of cognitive decline (β = 0.045, 95%CI [0.005-0.081]). Separate models including an APOEε4 × cPLA2 lipid-ratio interaction showed that the association between lipoxin A4/AA and global cognition proximate-to-death differed significantly between APOEε4 carriers and non-carriers (β = 0.396, 95% CI [0.015-0.776]). A secondary analysis, repeating these models with three indices of AA metabolism-to-AA ratios and examining the association between the six cPLA2 lipid ratios and five cognition domains, yielded similar results. Higher AA transcriptomic activation scores, indicating greater cPLA2 activation, were associated with lower global cognition at death (β = -0.148, 95% CI [-0.266 to -0.028]) and with multiple cognitive domains. Modulation of brain lipid ratios warrants further investigation as a potential target related to cognitive decline. National Institute of Health, the Council for Higher Education-Zuckerman support program for outstanding postdoctoral female researchers.
World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on the management of cyanobacteria in recreational waters provides a comprehensive framework for reducing human health risks. To provide a global overview of how cyanobacterial risks in recreational waters are managed and to better understand capacity gaps and best practice, we surveyed expert opinion across the world. A total of 161 survey responses were collected from 49 countries. Results indicate widespread variation in the extent of recreational water monitoring. Routine monitoring often varies by region in larger, more populous countries, while seasonal monitoring, typically conducted at variable intervals, was the most used approach. Approximately half of the countries reported either a lack of routine monitoring or a combination of different monitoring patterns. Notably, whereas nearly all countries reported methods for planktonic sampling, only one-third of countries reported methods for benthic sampling. Globally, we conclude that the assessment and management of benthic cyanobacteria risks lag behind that of planktonic cyanobacteria risks. Cell counts and pigments were the most common assessment techniques for planktonic cyanobacteria. Microcystis and Oscillatoria were the most frequently reported problematic genus of planktonic and benthic cyanobacteria, respectively, and microcystins were the most frequently reported cyanotoxins of concern. A wide variety of management responses and risk communication methods were reported with the primary action trigger being the presence of cyanobacterial scums. Experts across the world were mostly unsatisfied with recreational water risk management regimes, with over 80% of respondents desiring change in how cyanobacterial risks are managed. We conclude that a renewed international effort is needed to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange and sustain investment to ensure safer recreational waters at a global scale.
Digital mental health interventions for eating disorders can expand treatment access, but high attrition rates and heterogenous patient responses indicate a need for precision medicine approaches that identify which patients will benefit most and predict their treatment outcomes. We analyzed 30 days of Recovery Record (a widely-adopted digital intervention for eating disorders) data from 1,166 participants with lifetime bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder, with assessments at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint. We identified three symptoms (eating preoccupation, shape/weight preoccupation, and fear of losing control over eating) as precision psychological markers that predict and inform treatment response. These symptoms demonstrated the strongest correlations with overall symptom improvement measured by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) Global score (r=0.65-0.66), predicted outcomes when elevated at baseline (all P<0.001), mediated treatment effects through early symptom changes (all P<0.001), and differentiated response groups in cluster analysis. Participants demonstrated significant improvements across all eating disorder domains at the population level (Global score Cohen's d=-0.80), but cluster analysis revealed three distinct response patterns: strong responders (35.2%) achieved mean Global score reductions of -1.50 points, moderate responders (46.4%) achieved -0.36 points, and non-responders (18.4%) showed minimal change (-0.06 points). This framework may enable identification of individuals most likely to benefit from a digital intervention and potentially supports early treatment monitoring, paralleling precision medicine advances where psychological marker-driven patient selection could improve treatment decisions. This mechanistic approach provides a generalizable framework for developing targeted digital mental health interventions across psychiatric disorders.
GNAO1-related disorders (GNAO1-RD), caused by variants in GNAO1 encoding the Gαo protein, comprise a broad phenotypic spectrum including movement disorders (MD) and/or epilepsy and are typically associated with developmental delay and intellectual disability. Currently, only symptomatic treatments are available. Zinc can restore guanosine triphosphate hydrolysis and cellular interactions of dysfunctional Gαo. ZINCGNAO1 evaluated the safety and feasibility of oral zinc supplementation in GNAO1-RD. ZINCGNAO1 was a 6-month, open-label, fixed-dose, single-centre pilot trial in Germany. Eligible participants were aged 6 months to 30 years, had a genetically confirmed GNAO1 variant, at least one hallmark feature of GNAO1-RD (MD, hypotonia, epilepsy, or global developmental delay), and had a Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) score of 75 or lower. Zinc acetate dihydrate was administered orally in age-dependent dosages. Primary outcomes were safety, assessed by adverse event monitoring and laboratory analyses, and feasibility, defined as treatment adherence of at least 80% of days. Exploratory secondary outcomes included changes in MD severity (Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale-Movement Score, BFMDRS-M, Abnormal involuntary movement scale, AIMS), and related disability (BFMDRS-Disability Score), motor function (GMFM-66), quality of life (Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities, CPCHILD), occupational performance (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure performance and satisfaction scores, COPM-P/-S), epilepsy, and participant- or caregiver-reported outcomes. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06412653) and the EU Clinical Trials Register (2024-512735-72-00) and is complete. Between Aug 2, 2024, and Jan 27, 2025, 13 participants with 11 different genetic variants were enrolled; 11 completed the follow up of the trial. Mean age at inclusion was 8.0 years (range 0.5-25.1). Overall treatment feasibility was 84.6% (11/13). No treatment-related serious adverse events occurred, and laboratory monitoring did not identify clinically relevant safety concerns during the 6-month treatment period. Exploratory secondary outcomes showed no change in MD severity. The mean BFMDRS Disability Score decreased from 25.5 (SD 2.6) to 23.5 (SD 2.8; nominal p = 0.005). Mean GMFM-66 increased from 33.1 (SD 12.8) to 37.8 (SD 12.8, nominal p = 0.006). COPM-P increased from 2.6 (SD 0.8) to 3.8 (SD 1.3; nominal p = 0.003), and COPM-S from 2.7 (SD 0.9) to 4.1 (SD 1.7; nominal p = 0.002). CPCHILD and seizure occurrence showed no clear treatment-related change; two participants had seizures during the trial. Our preliminary findings show that oral zinc supplementation was safe and feasible in this GNAO1-RD population. Exploratory secondary outcomes suggested possible improvements in motor function and daily activities. Larger controlled trials are needed to assess efficacy. GNAO1-Gemeinsam nicht allein e.V.
The interaction between climate and life-history traits shapes the ecological niches of flowering plants, particularly the germination stage. However, a global synthesis of how these factors influence germination niches across plant lineages has been lacking. This study aimed to determine the extent to which climate and life-history traits predict germination niche variation across angiosperms. We compiled and analysed a newly assembled global dataset comprising ecological parameters of 1912 plant species. A phylogenetically informed Bayesian approach was used to quantify correlations between germination niche traits and life-history attributes. Additionally, we developed a climate model to examine whether the interaction between climate and life-history traits modulates germination-phase characteristics. Climate was the strongest predictor of germination niche traits across species, indicating that angiosperms adapt their germination requirements to the prevailing climatic conditions. All tested life-history traits, except relative growth rate, showed significant correlations with germination niche dimensions. These results support the hypothesis that germination traits are evolutionarily aligned with species' ecological strategies and life cycles. Our findings underscore the important role of climate in shaping germination niches globally and demonstrate that life-history strategies are closely linked to germination traits. These results highlight the need to consider germination niches in ecological forecasting and conservation planning under climate change scenarios.
The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time, yet the role of microorganisms remains underrecognized in climate science and policy. Microbes are highly sensitive to environmental change and regulate essential biogeochemical processes, while also offering solutions for reducing emissions, restoring ecosystems, and enhancing resilience. Microbiology societies from five continents recently convened in Washington, DC, for the inaugural Global Strategy Meeting on Microbes and Climate Change. The gathering launched a global alliance to position microbial science as a pillar of climate action and identified four priorities: building a coalition, embedding microbes in climate frameworks, transforming communication, and advancing real-world demonstration projects. This initiative marks the beginning of coordinated global action to harness microbial life for climate solutions.
Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition and shifts in plant functional composition can alter grassland biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet their interactive effects on multifunctionality across spatial scales remain poorly understood. Using an eight-year field experiment that combined plant functional group removal with N addition in a subalpine meadow, we tested how N addition and the removal of dominant grasses or subordinate forbs affected biodiversity and multifunctionality from empirical α-scale plots to derived β- and γ-scale estimates based on four-plot assemblages. We found that grass removal reduced α- and γ-multifunctionality, whereas forb removal did not affect multifunctionality across scales under both ambient and N addition conditions. The decline in γ-multifunctionality after grass removal was associated mainly with reduced α-component multifunctionality. Grass removal increased plant α-diversity and β-diversity under ambient conditions, whereas forb removal reduced both α- and β-diversity, especially under N addition. However, neither plant nor soil α-diversity predicted α-multifunctionality and changes in plant β-diversity were not accompanied by comparable changes in β-multifunctionality, indicating that, within the range of diversity changes observed here, multifunctionality was more strongly tied to grass-associated functions than to plant diversity. N addition modified plant diversity responses to functional group removal but did not change multifunctionality responses. Our multiscale framework clarifies how dominant functional groups and biodiversity components contribute differently to ecosystem multifunctionality under nutrient enrichment, underscoring the need for integrated conservation approaches that safeguard both dominant and subordinate species.