The use of plant-based preparations to replace chemical pesticides is a challenge for sustainable agriculture. Preparations from nettle (Urtica dioica L.) are good candidates, as the treatment of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with aqueous suspensions of nettle reduced symptoms of halo blight disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Pph). The aim of the present work was to test if nettle infusions (Ui) have similar effects and find out what activity is behind this: antimicrobial, promotion of the natural defenses of plants, and/or antioxidant. To achieve this, Pph growth was tested in the presence of infusions of nettle leaves collected in two different years (Ui18 and Ui22), and we found that it was only weakly inhibited at high concentrations of Ui18. Interestingly, Ui22 promoted bacteria growth at all concentrations. Second, we estimated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to flagellin22 (flg22) in common bean leaf discs, since recognition of this bacterial peptide usually leads to ROS accumulation in tissues as a plant immune response. However, leaf discs that were preincubated in Ui showed no accumulation of ROS after flg22 treatment, suggesting that Ui can neutralize ROS production. Finally, in a Pph inoculation experiment of common bean plants grown in vitro, we observed that pretreatment of plants with Ui drastically reduced foliar oxidative damage and disease symptoms 6 h after inoculation. This effect was more noticeable for Ui22, which was related to the higher antioxidant activity found in this extract in comparison with Ui18. These results suggest that the protective properties of Ui are mainly due to the content of antioxidant bioactive compounds. Full article

The availability assessment is an important step for onboard application in Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM)s. It is commonly implemented using the protection level (PL)-based method. This paper analyzes the deficiencies of three kinds of PL-based methods: RAIM availability might be optimistically or conservatively assessed using the classic-PL-base method; might be conservatively assessed using the enhanced-PL-based method, and neither be optimistically nor conservatively assessed using the ideal-PL-based method with the cost of large calculation amount on-board. An improved slope-based RAIM availability assessment method is proposed, in which the characteristic slope is designed as the assessment basis, and its threshold that can exactly match the integrity risk requirement is derived. The slope-based method has the same RAIM availability assessment result as the ideal-PL-based method. Moreover, because the slope threshold can be calculated offline and searched online, the on-board calculation burden can be reduced using the slope-based method. Simulation is presented to verify the theoretical analysis of the RAIM availability assessment performances for the three PL-based and the slope-based methods. Full article

Natural astaxanthin is in high demand due to its multiple health benefits. The microalga Haematococcus lacustris has been used for the commercial production of astaxanthin. In this study, we investigated the effects of six different media with and without a nitrogen source and supplementation with nine organic compounds on the growth and astaxanthin accumulation of H. lacustris. The highest astaxanthin contents were observed in cultures of H. lacustris in Jaworski’s medium (JM), with a level of 9.099 mg/L in JM with a nitrogen source supplemented with leucine (0.65 g/L) and of 20.484 mg/L in JM without a nitrogen source supplemented with sodium glutamate (0.325 g/L). Six of the nine organic compounds examined (leucine, lysine, alanine, sodium glutamate, glutamine, and cellulose) enhanced the production of astaxanthin in H. lacustris, while malic acid, benzoic acid, and maltose showed no beneficial effects. Full article

This article presents a comparative analysis focusing on the economic dimensions of quality of life and explores the factors influencing economic growth and well-being between two countries located in Eastern Europe: Romania—an EU member state since 2007, and Moldova—an EU candidate status since June 2022. By examining statistical data, we assess the relationship between economic growth and development, aiming to discern patterns and dynamics within these countries’ economies. Through this comparative approach, we aim to elucidate how economic factors contribute to societal welfare and living standards. The study underscores the significance of economic management policies and structural reforms in fostering growth and enhancing the quality of life for citizens. By focusing on the economic landscapes of Romania and Moldova, we aim to offer insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by transitioning economies in Eastern Europe, shedding light on strategies for sustainable development and improved well-being. Full article

Accurate modeling of the ocean response to tropical cyclones (TCs) requires high-quality wind fields to force ocean models. In this study, blended wind fields are generated using multi-source satellite data and the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) wind data. We utilize the hybrid wind fields to drive the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) for simulating oceanic dynamic and thermodynamic parameters. The model’s simulated ocean surface and sub-surface temperatures, as well as current speeds, are generally consistent with satellite and in situ observations collected during TC Winston and Freddy. The results are significantly better than those simulated by ROMS using wind forcing from CFSR alone. These results suggest that incorporating satellite wind data into the atmospheric forcing has the potential to enhance vertical mixing and improve simulations of the upper ocean response to TCs. Full article

Talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) is a genetically modified oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) that is used for the intralesional treatment of advanced or metastatic melanoma. Given that TVEC produces the granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), recent reports have suggested that radiation treatment (RT) given in conjunction with TVEC may provide synergistic immune activation at the site, and possibly systemically. However, studies on combining RT with TVEC remain limited. We conducted a retrospective review of melanoma patients from a single cancer center who received TVEC and RT in the same region of the body and compared them to patients who received TVEC with RT at another site (other than the site of TVEC injection). Between January 2015 and September 2022, we identified twenty patients who were treated with TVEC and RT; fourteen patients received TVEC and RT in the same region, and six had treatments in separate regions. Regions were determined at the time of analysis and were based on anatomic sites (such as arm, leg, torso, etc.). Kaplan–Meier analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), analyses of time to distant metastasis (DM), overall survival (OS), and locoregional control (LRC), and the corresponding log-rank test were performed. With a median follow-up of 10.5 months [mos] (range 1.0–58.7 mos), we found an improvement in PFS with TVEC and RT in the same region compared to different regions, which were 6.4 mos (95% CI, 2.4–NR mos) and 2.8 mos (95% CI, 0.7–4.4 mos), respectively; p = 0.005. There was also a significant improvement in DM when TVEC and RT were used in the same region compared to different regions: 13.8 mos (95% CI, 4.6–NR mos) and 2.8 mos (95% CI, 0.7–4.4 mos), respectively (p = 0.001). However, we found no difference in overall survival (OS) between patients who had TVEC and RT in the same region (19.0 mos, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.1–not reached [NR] mos) and those who received treatments in different regions (18.5 mos, 95% CI, 1.0–NR mos); p = 0.366. There was no statistically significant improvement in locoregional control (LRC) in patients who had TVEC and RT in the same region was 26.0 mos (95% CI, 6.4–26.0 mos) compared to patients who received TVEC and RT in different regions (4.4 mos) (95% CI, 0.7–NR mos) (p = 0.115). No grade 3 or higher toxicities were documented in either group. Overall, there were improvements in PFS and DM when TVEC and RT were delivered to the same region of the body compared to when they were used in different regions. However, we did not find a significant difference in locoregional recurrence or OS. Future studies are needed to assess the sequence and timing of combining RT and TVEC to potentially enhance the immune response both locally and distantly. Full article

Deep seawater (DS), obtained from a depth over 200 m, has health benefits due to its rich nutrients and minerals, and intake of DS has shown diverse immunomodulatory effects in allergies and cancer. Therefore, the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mineral-rich seawaters were examined in a cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immunosuppression model. Three samples of Korean seawater, namely DS from the East Sea off the coasts of Pohang (PDS) and Uljin (UDS), and seawater from the West Sea off the coast of Boryeong (BS), were collected. The seawaters were abundant in several minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, etc.). Mice were orally administered the seawaters for 42 days, followed by CPA-induced immunosuppression. The CPA induction reduced the weight of the spleen and lymph nodes; however, the administration of seawaters increased the weight of the lymphoid organs, accompanied by stimulation of natural killer cells’ activity and NF-kB-mediated cytokine production (IFNγ, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, and IL12). The mouse-derived splenocytes showed lymphoproliferation without cytotoxicity in the seawater groups. Histopathological analysis revealed that the seawaters improved the CPA-induced atrophic changes by promoting lymphoproliferation in the spleen and lymph nodes. These results provide useful information for the use of Korean mineral-rich seawaters, particularly PDS and UDS, as alternative immunostimulants under immunosuppressive conditions. Full article

Increasingly, urban planners are adopting virtual reality (VR) in designing urban green spaces (UGS) to visualize landscape designs in immersive 3D. However, the psychological effect of green spaces from the experience in VR may differ from the actual experience in the real world. In this paper, we systematically reviewed studies in the literature that conducted experiments to investigate the psychological benefits of nature in both VR and the real world to study nature in VR anchored to nature in the real world. We separated these studies based on the type of VR setup used, specifically, 360-degree video or 3D virtual environment, and established a framework of commonly used standard questionnaires used to measure the perceived mental states. The most common questionnaires include Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), and Restoration Outcome Scale (ROS). Although the results from studies that used 360-degree video were less clear, results from studies that used 3D virtual environments provided evidence that virtual nature is comparable to real-world nature and thus showed promise that UGS designs in VR can transfer into real-world designs to yield similar physiological effects. Full article

Normal testicular development ensures the process of spermatogenesis, which is a complex biological process. The sustained high productivity of spermatogenesis throughout life is predominantly attributable to the constant proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The self-renewal and differentiation processes of SSCs are strictly regulated by the SSC niche. Therefore, understanding the developmental pattern of SSCs is crucial for spermatogenesis. The Shaziling pig is a medium-sized indigenous pig breed originating from central China. It is renowned for its superior meat quality and early male sexual maturity. The spermatogenic ability of the boars is of great economic importance to the pig industry. To investigate testicular development, particularly the pattern of SSC development in Shaziling pigs, we used single-cell transcriptomics to identify gene expression patterns in 82,027 individual cells from nine Shaziling pig testes at three key postnatal developmental stages. We generated an unbiased cell developmental atlas of Shaziling pig testicular tissues. We elucidated the complex processes involved in the development of SSCs within their niche in the Shaziling pig. Specifically, we identified potential marker genes and cellular signaling pathways that regulate SSC self-renewal and maintenance. Additionally, we proposed potential novel marker genes for SSCs that could be used for SSC isolation and sorting in Shaziling pigs. Furthermore, by immunofluorescence staining of testicular tissues of different developmental ages using marker proteins (UCHL1 and KIT), the developmental pattern of the spermatogonia of Shaziling pigs was intensively studied. Our research enhances the comprehension of the development of SSCs and provides a valuable reference for breeding Shaziling pigs. Full article

The reconfiguration of wireless channels with reconfigurable reflecting surface (RIS) technology offers new design options for future wireless networks. Due to its high altitude and increased probability of establishing line-of-sight linkages with ground source/destination nodes, aerial RIS (ARIS) has greater deployment flexibility than traditional terrestrial RIS. It also provides a wider-view signal reflection. To leverage the advantages of ARIS-enabled systems, this paper defines air-to-ground linkages via Nakagami-m small-scale fading and inverse-Gamma large-scale shadowing, considering realistic composite fading channels. To construct a tight approximate closed-form formula for the outage probability (OP), a new mathematical framework is proposed. Additionally, a deep-learning-based system called the BiLSTM model is deployed to evaluate OP performance in the 3D spatial movement of the ARIS system. In the offline phase, the proposed model is trained with real-value channel state estimation sets and enhances OP performance in the online phase by learning channel information in a bidirectional manner. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed BiLSTM model outperforms all other models in analyzing OP for the ARIS system. Full article

In this Special Issue, titled “Drosophila—A Model System for Developmental Biology”, we present a series of articles and reviews looking at the diverse ways that researchers are using the humble fruit fly, also known as the vinegar fly, to tackle the many aspects of development and homeostasis [...] Full article

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most important constraints to potato production worldwide. There is an increasing occurrence of recombinant PVY strains PVY^NTN and PVY^N-Wi and a decline in the incidence of the nonrecombinant PVY^O. We hypothesized that this may be due to the ability of these recombinant strains to antagonize and/or outcompete PVY^O in mixed infections. To determine this, we investigated interactions between PVY^O and three recombinant PVY strains common in North America: PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wi, and PVY^N:O. Overall, our study showed that these interactions are tissue-dependent. Specifically, PVY^NTN, the main causal agent of potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD), was found to be more adaptable than PVY^O, especially in potato leaves due, at least in part, to the Ny gene that confers hypersensitive resistance (HR) to PVY^O. Furthermore, PVY^N-Wi was found to repress PVY^O in potato tubers but act synergistically in potato leaves. The PVY^O-induced foliage necrosis in cultivar ‘Ranger Russet’ was observed to be more severe in plants co-infected by PVY^N-Wi and PVY^N:O, respectively, resulting in plant death. Strikingly, this PVY^O -induced necrosis was suppressed by PVY^NTN in doubly infected plants. These interactions may, at least partially, explain the decreasing incidence of PVY^O in United States potato production regions, especially given that many cultivars contain the Ny gene, which likely limits PVY^O enabling PVY^NTN and PVY^N-Wi to outcompete. We also found that replication and cell-to-cell movement of these PVY strains in tubers at 4 °C was similar to levels at ambient temperature. Full article

With the current trends of wind energy already playing a major part in the Scottish energy supply, the capacity of wind farms is predicted to grow exponentially and reach further depths offshore. However, a key challenge that presents itself is the integration of large producing assets into the current UK grid. One potential solution to this is green hydrogen production, which is being heavily researched in industry, with many concepts being investigated for large-scale purposes. However, the operations and maintenance (O&M) costs and availability of green hydrogen systems need to be quantified to ensure economical and technical viability, which is sparse in the available literature. The study presented in this paper investigated the availability and O&M costs of coupled wind–hydrogen systems by attempting to quantify the failure rates, repair times, repair costs and number of technicians required for key green hydrogen components. This study also utilised an O&M model created by the University of Strathclyde, which uses Monte Carlo Markov chain simulations to produce the O&M outputs. A number of assumptions were made throughout the study in relation to the O&M model inputs, and the baseline availability for the coupled wind–hydrogen system was 85.24%. Whilst the wind turbine still contributed a major part to the downtime seen in the simulations, the combined hydrogen system also contributed a significant amount, a total of 37%, which could have been due to the technology readiness levels of some the components included in the hydrogen system. Full article

Important metapopulation dynamics are disrupted by factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human-induced mortality, culminating in isolated wildlife populations and threatening species survival. Source populations, where birth rates exceed mortality and connectivity facilitates dispersal, contrast with sink populations, where mortality outstrips births, risking localised extinction. Recolonisation by individuals from source populations is pivotal for species survival. The leopard is the last free-roaming apex predator in South Africa and plays an important ecological role. In the Eastern and Western Cape provinces in South Africa, leopard populations have low densities and fragmented population structures. We identified a leopard population that, after being locally extinct for a century, appeared to recolonise an ‘island’ of mountainous habitat. We aimed to understand potential factors driving this recolonisation using recent camera trapping surveys and historical statutory destruction permits. We employed spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) methods to estimate the leopard density and explore potential factors which best explain density. We found that the recently recolonised Piketberg population now exhibits some of the highest densities reported in the region (~1.8 leopards/100 km²; CI 1.4–2.5). Livestock, human presence, elevation, and the camera trap grid appeared to explain leopard detection rates. When considering the historic data, the re-emergence of leopards in the Piketberg coincided with the cessation of the extensive state-sponsored and state-enabled culling of the species, and the change in land use from livestock production to crop agriculture, which likely contributed to the recolonisation. Elucidating these factors deepens our understanding of leopard metapopulation dynamics in relation to land use and species management and highlights the crucial role of private land and state agencies and associated policies in species persistence. Full article

In order to reduce the lateral error of path-following control of unmanned vehicles under variable curvature paths, we propose a path-following control strategy for unmanned vehicles based on optimal preview time model predictive control (OP-MPC). The strategy includes the longitudinal speed limit, the optimal preview time surface, and the model predictive control (MPC)controller. The longitudinal speed limit controls speed to prevent vehicle rollover and sideslip. The optimal preview time surface adjusts the preview time according to the vehicle speed and path curvature. The preview point determined by the preview time is used as the reference waypoint of OP-MPC controller. Finally, the effectiveness of the strategy was verified through simulation and with the real unmanned vehicle. The maximum lateral deviation obtained by the OP-MPC controller was reduced from 0.522 m to 0.145 m under the simulation compared with an MPC controller. The maximum lateral deviation obtained by the OP-MPC controller was reduced from 0.5185 m to 0.2298 m under the real unmanned vehicle compared with the MPC controller. Full article

As a geological barrier for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal in China, granite is crucial for blocking nuclide migration into the biosphere. However, the high uncertainty associated with the 3D geological system, such as the stochastic discrete fracture networks in granite, significantly impedes practical safety assessments of HLW disposal. This study proposes a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS)-based simulation framework for evaluating the long-term barrier performance of nuclide migration in fractured rocks. Statistical data on fracture geometric parameters, on-site hydrogeological conditions, and relevant migration parameters are obtained from a research site in Northwestern China. The simulation models consider the migration of three key nuclides, Cs-135, Se-79, and Zr-93, in fractured granite, with mechanisms including adsorption, advection, diffusion, dispersion, and decay considered as factors. Subsequently, sixty MCS realizations are performed to conduct a sensitivity analysis using the open-source software OpenGeoSys-5 (OGS-5). The results reveal the maximum and minimum values of the nuclide breakthrough time T_t (12,000 and 3600 years, respectively) and the maximum and minimum values of the nuclide breakthrough concentration C_max (4.26 × 10⁻⁴ mSv/a and 2.64 × 10⁻⁵ mSv/a, respectively). These significant differences underscore the significant effect of the uncertainty in the discrete fracture network model on long-term barrier performance. After the failure of the waste tank (1000 years), nuclides are estimated to reach the outlet boundary 6480 years later. The individual effective dose in the biosphere initially increases and then decreases, reaching a peak value of C_max = 4.26 × 10⁻⁴ mSv/a around 350,000 years, which is below the critical dose of 0.01 mSv/a. These sensitivity analysis results concerning nuclide migration in discrete fractured granite can enhance the simulation and prediction accuracy for risk evaluation of HLW disposal. Full article

Due to the falling water level in the Aral Sea and Muynak Lake, the content of salts dissolved in the water has gradually increased, and toxic elements have been deposited at the lake’s bottom and subsequently washed into the Aral region by the river. Bacteria, archaea and fungi are crucial for the cycling of several important inorganic nutrients in soils. From 15 genera and 31 species of recovered microscopic filamentous fungi, a big group was melanized, of which most of them were also phytopathogenic. The second group consisted of keratinophilic species. Isolated bacteria mainly included members of the genera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Massilia, Rhodococcus and Nocardiopsis. High-throughput sequencing analysis permitted a better view of the mycobiome and prokaryotic communities (comprising archaea). The cultivation and sequencing approaches were shown to be complementary. The aim of the work was to identify soil microorganisms, including the order Halobacteriales, and to discover the differences in species diversity depending on soil salinity and the presence of PTEs in soil. Full article

Background: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of using two different devices to treat upper palatal discrepancies evaluated with a digital intraoral scanner. Methods: A total of 64 patients were enrolled and treated with either an elastodontic expansion device (32 patient test group, 16 females and 16 males, mean age 7.08 ± 0.44) or Haas expander (32 patient control group, 16 females and 16 males, mean age 7.32 ± 0.50). The two groups exhibited similar orthodontic features. The orthodontic criteria were: skeletal class I relationship; molar class I relationship; complete eruption of upper sixths; presence of unilateral or bilateral cross bite. All dental casts were examined and subsequently scanned with an intraoral scanner (I-Tero) pre-treatment (T0) and 12 months after the onset of therapy (T1) to assess the distance between the decidous upper canines (ICW, intercanine width) and the distance between the mesiopalatal cusps of the upper first molars (IMW, intermolar width). For statistical analysis, the t-test for continous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables were used, respectively. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the mean and SD of the expansions that resulted from the Haas expander and the elastodontic devices (Haas expander vs. Eptamed: ICW_T1 (Haas) = 42.34 (3.09), ICW_T1 (Eptamed) = 42.69 (2.77); p = 0.743; IMW_T1 (Haas) = 34.22 (2.29), IMW_T1 (Eptamed) = 34.00 (2.56); p = 0.800). The two devices were similarly effective. Conclusions: Elastodontic devices and the Haas expander can successfully help the orthodontist to conduct upper arch expansion treatment. However, elastodontic devices are more comfortable during the resolution of palatal discrepancies compared to palatal expander devices. Full article

The demand for Vaccinium fruits has skyrocketed due to their nutritional and medicinal properties, notably their high content of phenolic compounds and excellent sensory evaluation. The use of Vaccinium plants and its components as dietary supplements and health ingredients has been on the rise across the world. The attractive fruits contain a high content of anthocyanins and antioxidant compounds. In some popular and valuable cultivars, the conventional propagation methods, exploiting hard or soft wood cuttings, are inefficient. The demand for nursery plants can be fulfilled by micropropagation. This review aims to explore advances in the in vitro culture of Vaccinium plants, focusing on effective disinfection, optimized culture media, and the role of growth regulators in plant development and multiplication. By providing a controlled environment, micropropagation allows the large-scale production of these plants in a short time, ensuring availability throughout the year. Additionally, this technique offers the advantage of studying the effects of abiotic stresses on plants, as well as facilitating research on the production of relevant metabolites. This review seeks to provide an updated overview of the most promising methods and techniques for micropropagation of Vaccinium, thereby contributing to the ongoing development of the blueberry production industry and derivative products. Full article

The red Chinese sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) is native to China and exhibits a unique fruit coloration pattern. Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) catalyzes the hydroxylation of flavonoids, which subsequently determines the components of anthocyanins and the color of plant organs. Two genes encoding flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H), PpF3′HI and PpF3′HII, have been identified in red Chinese sand pears. The coding regions for PpF3′HI and PpF3′HII were 1542 and 1536 bp in length, respectively. PpF3′HI shared 95% of its amino acid sequence identity with PpF3′HII, and a highly conserved P450 superfamily domain was found both in PpF3′HI and in PpF3′HII. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PpF3′HI and PpF3′HII clustered with MdF3′HI and MdF3′HII, respectively. PpF3′H genes were highly expressed in anthocyanin-enriched tissues such as young leaves, and transcription of PpF3′H genes corresponded to anthocyanin biosynthesis during the developmental stages, bagging treatment, and postharvest UV-B/visible irradiation treatment. A Y1H assay showed that PpMYB10 and PpHY5 could interact with the −419 bp to 0 bp and −746 bp to −396 bp fragments of the PpF3′HI promoter region, respectively. Understanding the mechanism of flavonoid hydroxylation patterns will, in turn, promote the development of new technologies for modifying flavonoid and anthocyanin composition in fruits. Full article

Pullulan is a polysaccharide that has attracted the attention of scientists in recent times as a former of edible films. On the other hand, its use for the preparation of hydrogels needs more study, as well as the formation of pullulan microcapsules as active ingredient release systems for the food industry. Due to the slow gelation kinetics of pullulan with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), capsules cannot be formed through the conventional method of dropping into a solution of the gelling agent, as with other polysaccharides, since the pullulan chains migrate to the medium before the capsules can form by gelation. Pullulan microcapsules have been obtained by using inverse water-in-oil emulsions as templates. The emulsion that acts as a template has been characterized by monitoring its stability and by optical microscopy, and the size of the emulsion droplets has been correlated with the size of the microcapsules obtained, demonstrating that it is a good technique for their production. Although some flocs of droplets form, these remain dispersed during the gelation process and two capsule size distributions are obtained: those of the non-flocculated droplets and the flocculated droplets. The microcapsules have been evaluated as vitamin C release systems, showing zero-order release kinetics for acidic pH and Fickian mechanism for neutral pH. On the other hand, the microcapsules offer good protection of vitamin C against oxidation during an evaluation period of 14 days. Full article

Biocolourants could be a sustainable option for dyes that require fossil-based chemicals in their synthesis. We studied the in vitro toxicity of anthraquinone aglycone extract obtained from Cortinarius sanguineus fungus and compared it to the toxicity of its two main components, emodin and previously studied dermocybin. Cell viability, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress responses in HepG2 liver and THP-1 immune cell lines were studied along with skin sensitisation. In addition, genotoxicity was studied with comet assay in HepG2 cells. Cellular viability was determined by MTT, propidium iodide, and lactate dehydrogenase assays, which showed that the highest doses of both the aglycone extract and emodin affected the viability. However, the effect did not occur in all of the used assays. Notably, after both exposures, a dose-dependent increase in oxidative stress factors was observed in both cell lines as measured by MitoSOX and dihydroethidium assays. C. sanguineus extract was not genotoxic in the comet assay. Importantly, both emodin and the extract activated the skin sensitisation pathway in the KeratinoSens assay, suggesting that they can induce allergy in humans. As emodin has shown cytotoxic and skin-sensitising effects, it is possible that the adverse effects caused by the extract are also mediated by it since it is the main component present in the fungus. Full article