Industrial effluent treatment relies on chemical coagulants, which incur higher costs and generate toxic sludge. This study isolated and identified bioflocculant-producing Bacillus mycoides (S39) strain and enhanced yield using one-factor-at-a-time optimization. Characterization studies of purified bioflocculant reveal a crystalline polysaccharide bearing amine, hydroxyl, and carboxylate groups that drive adsorption and polymer bridging. The bioflocculant exhibited flocculation activities of 95.56 % for textile effluent and 92.84 % for steel wastewater with Ca2+ activation. Bioflocculant remained stable across pH and temperature. Kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, yielding rate constants, an optimized dosage, and assistance with sizing. Hemolysis (<5 %) and viability (>80 %) assays indicated non-cytotoxicity. The bioflocculant maintained performance ranged from 0.01 to 10 L, supporting S39 as a sustainable alternative to chemical coagulants. This study investigated the potential of B. mycoides bioflocculant, which showed promise as a sustainable and high-efficiency alternative to conventional coagulants and, to the best of our knowledge, the first kinetic and scale-relevant evaluation of this strain for wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Characterization and production of a Bacillus mycoides Bioflocculant for sustainable effluent treatment","authors":"Karthikeyan Harinisri, Balasubramanian Thamarai Selvi","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial effluent treatment relies on chemical coagulants, which incur higher costs and generate toxic sludge. This study isolated and identified bioflocculant-producing <em>Bacillus mycoides</em> (S39) strain and enhanced yield using one-factor-at-a-time optimization. Characterization studies of purified bioflocculant reveal a crystalline polysaccharide bearing amine, hydroxyl, and carboxylate groups that drive adsorption and polymer bridging. The bioflocculant exhibited flocculation activities of 95.56 % for textile effluent and 92.84 % for steel wastewater with Ca<sup>2+</sup> activation. Bioflocculant remained stable across pH and temperature. Kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, yielding rate constants, an optimized dosage, and assistance with sizing. Hemolysis (<5 %) and viability (>80 %) assays indicated non-cytotoxicity. The bioflocculant maintained performance ranged from 0.01 to 10 L, supporting S39 as a sustainable alternative to chemical coagulants. This study investigated the potential of <em>B</em>. <em>mycoides</em> bioflocculant, which showed promise as a sustainable and high-efficiency alternative to conventional coagulants and, to the best of our knowledge, the first kinetic and scale-relevant evaluation of this strain for wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"7 ","pages":"Pages 1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Recently, a unique behavior of T7 RNA polymerase has expanded its functionality as a biosensing platform. Various biosensors utilizing T7 RNA polymerase, combined with fluorescent aptamers, electrochemical probes, or CRISPR/Cas systems, have been developed to detect analytes, including nucleic acids and non-nucleic acid target, with high specificity and low detection limits. Each approach demonstrates unique strengths, such as real-time monitoring and minimal interference, but also presents challenges in stability, cost, and reaction optimization. This review provides an overview of T7 RNA polymerase's role in biosensing technology, highlighting its potential to advance diagnostics and molecular detection in diverse fields.
{"title":"Current biosensing strategies based on in vitro T7 RNA polymerase reaction","authors":"David Septian Sumanto Marpaung , Ayu Oshin Yap Sinaga , Damayanti Damayanti , Taharuddin Taharuddin , Setyadi Gumaran","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, a unique behavior of T7 RNA polymerase has expanded its functionality as a biosensing platform. Various biosensors utilizing T7 RNA polymerase, combined with fluorescent aptamers, electrochemical probes, or CRISPR/Cas systems, have been developed to detect analytes, including nucleic acids and non-nucleic acid target, with high specificity and low detection limits. Each approach demonstrates unique strengths, such as real-time monitoring and minimal interference, but also presents challenges in stability, cost, and reaction optimization. This review provides an overview of T7 RNA polymerase's role in biosensing technology, highlighting its potential to advance diagnostics and molecular detection in diverse fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 59-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11788683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.biotno.2025.05.001
Dijin Zhang , Jee Loon Foo , Matthew Wook Chang
Integrating electrochemistry and biology, microbial electrosynthesis (MES) enhances feedstock-to-product conversion by utilizing electroactive microorganisms to harness electrical energy for driving metabolic pathways. Advances in synthetic biology have improved microbial extracellular electron transfer and increased metabolic pathway efficiency, enabling optimized redox balance, expanded substrate versatility and enhanced bioproduction. Given the growing interest in sustainable chemical production and decarbonization, this mini-review highlights recent progress in MES enabled by synthetic biology, with a focus on engineering efficient microbial cell factories for electricity-mediated bioproduction through waste-derived feedstock utilization and carbon capture. We also highlight key challenges limiting MES scalability and propose future directions to enable industrial-scale deployment, unlocking its potential for sustainable, carbon-neutral production and driving transformative advances in biotechnology.
{"title":"Microbial electrosynthesis meets synthetic biology: Bioproduction from waste feedstocks","authors":"Dijin Zhang , Jee Loon Foo , Matthew Wook Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Integrating electrochemistry and biology, microbial electrosynthesis (MES) enhances feedstock-to-product conversion by utilizing electroactive microorganisms to harness electrical energy for driving metabolic pathways. Advances in synthetic biology have improved microbial extracellular electron transfer and increased metabolic pathway efficiency, enabling optimized redox balance, expanded substrate versatility and enhanced bioproduction. Given the growing interest in sustainable chemical production and decarbonization, this mini-review highlights recent progress in MES enabled by synthetic biology, with a focus on engineering efficient microbial cell factories for electricity-mediated bioproduction through waste-derived feedstock utilization and carbon capture. We also highlight key challenges limiting MES scalability and propose future directions to enable industrial-scale deployment, unlocking its potential for sustainable, carbon-neutral production and driving transformative advances in biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 157-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.003
Motasim Ismael , Madivoli Edwin , Khayeli Juliah
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the global threats that needs to be addressed. Nanotechnology represents a promising way to address this issue due to its multifaceted mode of action. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of silver nanoparticles using S. cuneifolia leaves extract. The formation and properties of AgNPs were characterized using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer, an FT-IR spectrophotometer, TEM, and XRD. Disc diffusion and MIC were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of AgNPs towards E. coli, S. flexneri, and S. aureus. The antibacterial action of silver NPs was observed using SEM, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the hemolysis assay. The anti-biofilm was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus. From the results obtained, a sharp peak in the UV–Vis spectra centered at 419 nm was associated with AgNPs, while the sharp, distinct peaks in the powder diffractograms were linked to the face-centered cubic (fcc) of crystalline AgNPs. TEM micrographs confirmed their spherical morphology, with dimensions varying from 4 to 31 nm. The nanoparticles showed significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against the tested isolates. Additionally, SEM confirmed that they could destroy the cell membrane and cause death. The biocompatibility of the synthesized AgNPs was safe at 100 μg/mL. Therefore, S. cuneifolia leaf extract has the potential to be an environmentally friendly substitute for the fabrication of Ag nanoparticles. The findings reveal that the synthesized nanoparticles could serve as a secure and effective alternative for addressing AMR.
{"title":"Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Sida cuneifolia leaf extract for enhanced antibacterial, cytotoxic, and anti-biofilm activities","authors":"Motasim Ismael , Madivoli Edwin , Khayeli Juliah","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the global threats that needs to be addressed. Nanotechnology represents a promising way to address this issue due to its multifaceted mode of action. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of silver nanoparticles using <em>S</em>. <em>cuneifolia</em> leaves extract. The formation and properties of AgNPs were characterized using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer, an FT-IR spectrophotometer, TEM, and XRD. Disc diffusion and MIC were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of AgNPs towards <em>E. coli</em>, <em>S. flexneri</em>, and <em>S. aureus</em>. The antibacterial action of silver NPs was observed using SEM, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the hemolysis assay. The anti-biofilm was evaluated against <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em>. From the results obtained, a sharp peak in the UV–Vis spectra centered at 419 nm was associated with AgNPs, while the sharp, distinct peaks in the powder diffractograms were linked to the face-centered cubic (fcc) of crystalline AgNPs. TEM micrographs confirmed their spherical morphology, with dimensions varying from 4 to 31 nm. The nanoparticles showed significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against the tested isolates. Additionally, SEM confirmed that they could destroy the cell membrane and cause death. The biocompatibility of the synthesized AgNPs was safe at 100 μg/mL. Therefore, <em>S. cuneifolia</em> leaf extract has the potential to be an environmentally friendly substitute for the fabrication of Ag nanoparticles. The findings reveal that the synthesized nanoparticles could serve as a secure and effective alternative for addressing AMR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 196-208"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study numerically investigates droplet formation in a three-dimensional flow-focusing microchannel and validates the results with a lithographically fabricated device (error ). The effects of injection angle, continuous phase viscosity, flow velocities, and interfacial tension on two-phase flow regimes, instantaneous flow fields, droplet size, formation frequency, and breakup time were examined. At acute angles, increasing the injection angle delays droplet detachment, producing larger droplets with greater interdroplet distance. At obtuse angles, larger injection angles slow down droplet formation and produce smaller droplets with shorter spacing. The injection angle of yields the maximum droplet diameter. As the flow rate ratio increases, the influence of the injection angle decreases, whereas higher capillary numbers amplify its effect. Higher continuous phase viscosity and velocity accelerate droplet formation, producing smaller droplets, while higher dispersed phase velocity and interfacial tension delay detachment, yielding larger droplets. Repeatability tests (coefficient of variation ) confirm high stability and reliability. These findings provide practical guidelines for designing controlled droplet generation in microfluidic applications.
{"title":"CFD study and experimental verification of droplet formation characteristics in a flow-focusing microfluidic device","authors":"Hajar Mohamadzade Sani, Seyed Mostafa Hosseinalipour","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study numerically investigates droplet formation in a three-dimensional flow-focusing microchannel and validates the results with a lithographically fabricated device (error <span><math><mrow><mo><</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>). The effects of injection angle, continuous phase viscosity, flow velocities, and interfacial tension on two-phase flow regimes, instantaneous flow fields, droplet size, formation frequency, and breakup time were examined. At acute angles, increasing the injection angle delays droplet detachment, producing larger droplets with greater interdroplet distance. At obtuse angles, larger injection angles slow down droplet formation and produce smaller droplets with shorter spacing. The injection angle of <span><math><mrow><mi>θ</mi><mo>=</mo><mrow><mn>90</mn><mo>°</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span> yields the maximum droplet diameter. As the flow rate ratio increases, the influence of the injection angle decreases, whereas higher capillary numbers amplify its effect. Higher continuous phase viscosity and velocity accelerate droplet formation, producing smaller droplets, while higher dispersed phase velocity and interfacial tension delay detachment, yielding larger droplets. Repeatability tests (coefficient of variation <span><math><mrow><mo><</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>) confirm high stability and reliability. These findings provide practical guidelines for designing controlled droplet generation in microfluidic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 230-244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indian tick typhus is an infectious disease caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria Rickettsia conorii (R. conorii). The bacterium is transmitted to humans through bite of infected ticks and sometimes by lice, fleas or mites. The disease is restricted to some areas with few cases but in last decade it is re-emerging with large number of cases from different areas of India. The insight in to genetic makeup of bacterial pathogens can be derived from their metabolic pathways. In the current study 18 metabolic pathways were found to be unique to the pathogen (R. conorii). A comprehensive analysis revealed 163 proteins implicated in 18 unique metabolic pathways of R. conorii. 140 proteins were reported to be essential for the bacterial survival, 46 were found virulent and 10 were found involved in resistance which can enhance the bacterial pathogenesis. The functional analysis of unique metabolic pathway proteins showed the abundance of plasmid conjugal transfer TrbL/VirB6, aliphatic acid kinase short chain, signal transduction response regulator receiver and components of type IV transporter system domains. The proteins were classified into six broad categories on the basis of predicted domains, i.e., metabolism, transport, gene expression and regulation, antimicrobial resistance, cell signalling and proteolysis. Further, in silico analysis showed that 88 proteins were suitable therapeutic targets which do not showed homology with host proteins. The 43 proteins showed hits with the DrugBank database showing their druggable nature and remaining 45 proteins were classified as novel drug targets that require further validation. The study will help to provide the better understanding of pathogens survival and embark on the development of successful therapies for the management of Indian tick typhus.
{"title":"Deciphering Rickettsia conorii metabolic pathways: A treasure map to therapeutic targets","authors":"Brijesh Prajapat , Ankita Sharma , Sunil Kumar , Dixit Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indian tick typhus is an infectious disease caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria <em>Rickettsia conorii</em> (<em>R. conorii</em>). The bacterium is transmitted to humans through bite of infected ticks and sometimes by lice, fleas or mites. The disease is restricted to some areas with few cases but in last decade it is re-emerging with large number of cases from different areas of India. The insight in to genetic makeup of bacterial pathogens can be derived from their metabolic pathways. In the current study 18 metabolic pathways were found to be unique to the pathogen (<em>R. conorii</em>). A comprehensive analysis revealed 163 proteins implicated in 18 unique metabolic pathways of <em>R. conorii</em>. 140 proteins were reported to be essential for the bacterial survival, 46 were found virulent and 10 were found involved in resistance which can enhance the bacterial pathogenesis. The functional analysis of unique metabolic pathway proteins showed the abundance of plasmid conjugal transfer TrbL/VirB6, aliphatic acid kinase short chain, signal transduction response regulator receiver and components of type IV transporter system domains. The proteins were classified into six broad categories on the basis of predicted domains, <em>i.e.</em>, metabolism, transport, gene expression and regulation, antimicrobial resistance, cell signalling and proteolysis. Further, <em>in silico</em> analysis showed that 88 proteins were suitable therapeutic targets which do not showed homology with host proteins. The 43 proteins showed hits with the DrugBank database showing their druggable nature and remaining 45 proteins were classified as novel drug targets that require further validation. The study will help to provide the better understanding of pathogens survival and embark on the development of successful therapies for the management of Indian tick typhus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11667008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.002
S.A. Razzak
This study investigates the potential of phototrophic microalgae, specifically Chlorella protothecoides, for biological wastewater treatment, with a focus on the effects of air temperature and CO2 concentration on nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater. Utilizing both the Monod and Arrhenius kinetic models, the research examines how temperature and nutrient availability influence microalgal growth and nutrient removal. The study finds that optimal biomass productivity occurs at 25 °C, with growth slowing at higher temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C). The Monod and Arrhenius models, which showed strong agreement with experimental data, revealed that temperature significantly impacted growth kinetics, with the Arrhenius model accurately predicting growth rates at lower temperatures. Activation energies for growth and cell death were determined as 5.4 kJ mol⁻1 and 88.4 kJ mol⁻1, respectively. The study also demonstrated that optimal nitrogen and phosphorus removal occurred at 25°C-30 °C, with 100 % total nitrogen (TN) removal and 85 % total phosphorus (TP) removal achieved at 30 °C. Additionally, CO2 concentration influenced biomass productivity, with peak productivity and nutrient removal at 6 % CO2, highlighting the importance of CO2 levels in optimizing growth and nutrient elimination. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing conditions for microalgae-based wastewater treatment, particularly in seasonal cultivation strategies, and contribute to improving biodiesel production and nutrient removal efficiency.
{"title":"Effect of temperature and CO2 concentration on biological nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater using microalgae Chlorella prototheocoides","authors":"S.A. Razzak","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the potential of phototrophic microalgae, specifically Chlorella protothecoides, for biological wastewater treatment, with a focus on the effects of air temperature and CO<sub>2</sub> concentration on nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater. Utilizing both the Monod and Arrhenius kinetic models, the research examines how temperature and nutrient availability influence microalgal growth and nutrient removal. The study finds that optimal biomass productivity occurs at 25 °C, with growth slowing at higher temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C). The Monod and Arrhenius models, which showed strong agreement with experimental data, revealed that temperature significantly impacted growth kinetics, with the Arrhenius model accurately predicting growth rates at lower temperatures. Activation energies for growth and cell death were determined as 5.4 kJ mol⁻<sup>1</sup> and 88.4 kJ mol⁻<sup>1</sup>, respectively. The study also demonstrated that optimal nitrogen and phosphorus removal occurred at 25°C-30 °C, with 100 % total nitrogen (TN) removal and 85 % total phosphorus (TP) removal achieved at 30 °C. Additionally, CO<sub>2</sub> concentration influenced biomass productivity, with peak productivity and nutrient removal at 6 % CO<sub>2</sub>, highlighting the importance of CO<sub>2</sub> levels in optimizing growth and nutrient elimination. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing conditions for microalgae-based wastewater treatment, particularly in seasonal cultivation strategies, and contribute to improving biodiesel production and nutrient removal efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 32-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11728070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142981030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.biotno.2025.02.003
Phakamani H. Tsilo , Albertus K. Basson , Zuzingcebo G. Ntombela , Nkosinathi G. Dlamini , Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla
Studying the utilization of natural products in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) recently appears to be a fascinating area of research within nanotechnology. These nanoparticles exhibit biocompatibility and inherent stability, making them highly suitable for various industrial applications. The utilization of bioflocculant-synthesized Ag nanoparticles was investigated in this study for the purpose of eliminating diverse pollutants and dyes from wastewater and solutions. In this study, Ag nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a green method utilizing a bioflocculant derived from Pichia kudriavzevii isolated from Kombucha tea SCOBY as a stabilizing agent. The resulting nanoparticles were then evaluated for their flocculation and antimicrobial properties. Different characterization techniques including SEM, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, and TEM were investigated from the synthesized nanoparticles. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the Ag nanoparticles was assessed on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. The EDX analysis showed elemental Ag constituted 61.93 wt% of the prepared AgNPs. SEM revealed particles with average size of 15.8 nm and were spherical in shape. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that AgNPs exhibited enhanced thermal stability, retaining over 85 % of their mass at elevated temperatures. In a concentration-dependent manner, the spherical biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited notable cytotoxic effects on HEK 293 cell lines with over 68 % cell viability at 25 mg/mL concentration. The biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles displayed robust antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, though Gram-negative were more susceptible with MIC of 3.125 mg/mL concentration. The nanoparticles showcased a dye removal efficiency exceeding 78 % for all the tested dyes with highest removal efficiency of 96 % for methylene blue at a dosage concentration of 0.2 mg/mL of AgNPs. The Ag nanoparticles exhibited exceptional efficiencies in removing a wide range of pollutants present in wastewater. Compared to traditional flocculants, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles demonstrated significant potential in effectively removing both biological oxygen demand (BOD) (92 % removal efficiency) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) (86 % removal efficiency). Thus, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles show great potential as a substitute for chemical flocculants in the treatment of industrial wastewater, offering im-proved purification capabilities.
{"title":"Applications of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Pichia kudriavzevii bioflocculant isolated from Kombucha tea SCOBY","authors":"Phakamani H. Tsilo , Albertus K. Basson , Zuzingcebo G. Ntombela , Nkosinathi G. Dlamini , Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying the utilization of natural products in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) recently appears to be a fascinating area of research within nanotechnology. These nanoparticles exhibit biocompatibility and inherent stability, making them highly suitable for various industrial applications. The utilization of bioflocculant-synthesized Ag nanoparticles was investigated in this study for the purpose of eliminating diverse pollutants and dyes from wastewater and solutions. In this study, Ag nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a green method utilizing a bioflocculant derived from <em>Pichia kudriavzevii</em> isolated from Kombucha tea SCOBY as a stabilizing agent. The resulting nanoparticles were then evaluated for their flocculation and antimicrobial properties. Different characterization techniques including SEM, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, and TEM were investigated from the synthesized nanoparticles. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the Ag nanoparticles was assessed on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. The EDX analysis showed elemental Ag constituted 61.93 wt% of the prepared AgNPs. SEM revealed particles with average size of 15.8 nm and were spherical in shape. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that AgNPs exhibited enhanced thermal stability, retaining over 85 % of their mass at elevated temperatures. In a concentration-dependent manner, the spherical biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited notable cytotoxic effects on HEK 293 cell lines with over 68 % cell viability at 25 mg/mL concentration. The biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles displayed robust antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, though Gram-negative were more susceptible with MIC of 3.125 mg/mL concentration. The nanoparticles showcased a dye removal efficiency exceeding 78 % for all the tested dyes with highest removal efficiency of 96 % for methylene blue at a dosage concentration of 0.2 mg/mL of AgNPs. The Ag nanoparticles exhibited exceptional efficiencies in removing a wide range of pollutants present in wastewater. Compared to traditional flocculants, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles demonstrated significant potential in effectively removing both biological oxygen demand (BOD) (92 % removal efficiency) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) (86 % removal efficiency). Thus, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles show great potential as a substitute for chemical flocculants in the treatment of industrial wastewater, offering im-proved purification capabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 106-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143580105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Proteus mirabilis, an opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in urinary and wound infections, has shown increasing multidrug resistance, posing significant therapeutic challenges. The study aims to investigate the prevalence and distribution of β-lactam resistance in P. mirabilis clinical isolates through the genotypic detection of the blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 genes. This study analyzed 100 clinical isolates of P. mirabilis obtained from various clinical specimens over a period of 10 months. Isolates were identified through standard microbiological techniques, including Gram staining, culture characteristics, and biochemical profiling. The majority of isolates (46 %) were recovered from patients aged 61–75 years, with a male predominance (65 %). Pus samples accounted for the highest number of isolates (59 %), predominantly associated with diabetic foot ulcers, cellulitis, and gangrene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Vitek (bioMérieux) showed that 33.31 % of isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics, with the highest resistance noted against ciprofloxacin (58 %), ceftazidime (50 %), and cotrimoxazole (49 %). However, piperacillin-tazobactam (96 %), Fosfomycin (94 %), and ertapenem (87 %) remained largely effective. Multidrug resistance was observed in 83 % of isolates, with 18 % showing resistance to six antibiotic classes. Molecular characterization showed that 19 % of isolates harbored the blaNDM-1 gene, 8 % carried blaKPC-2, and 4 % co-harbored both, indicating carbapenemase production. These findings underscore the urgent need for continuous surveillance, strict infection control measures, and prudent antibiotic use to curb the emergence and spread of resistant P. mirabilis strains in clinical settings.
{"title":"Emergence of β-lactamase-producing Proteus mirabilis in clinical settings: A genotypic investigation of resistance mechanisms and carbapenemase genes blaNDM-1 and blaKPC-2","authors":"Aneetta Saji Joseph, C.V.Swapna Manjari, Rahul Harikumar Lathakumari, Leela Kakithakara Vajravelu","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Proteus mirabilis</em>, an opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in urinary and wound infections, has shown increasing multidrug resistance, posing significant therapeutic challenges. The study aims to investigate the prevalence and distribution of β-lactam resistance in <em>P. mirabilis</em> clinical isolates through the genotypic detection of the <em>bla</em><sub>KPC-2</sub> and <em>bla</em><sub>NDM-1</sub> genes. This study analyzed 100 clinical isolates of <em>P. mirabilis</em> obtained from various clinical specimens over a period of 10 months. Isolates were identified through standard microbiological techniques, including Gram staining, culture characteristics, and biochemical profiling. The majority of isolates (46 %) were recovered from patients aged 61–75 years, with a male predominance (65 %). Pus samples accounted for the highest number of isolates (59 %), predominantly associated with diabetic foot ulcers, cellulitis, and gangrene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Vitek (bioMérieux) showed that 33.31 % of isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics, with the highest resistance noted against ciprofloxacin (58 %), ceftazidime (50 %), and cotrimoxazole (49 %). However, piperacillin-tazobactam (96 %), Fosfomycin (94 %), and ertapenem (87 %) remained largely effective. Multidrug resistance was observed in 83 % of isolates, with 18 % showing resistance to six antibiotic classes. Molecular characterization showed that 19 % of isolates harbored the <em>bla</em><sub>NDM-1</sub> gene, 8 % carried <em>bla</em><sub>KPC-2</sub>, and 4 % co-harbored both, indicating carbapenemase production. These findings underscore the urgent need for continuous surveillance, strict infection control measures, and prudent antibiotic use to curb the emergence and spread of resistant <em>P. mirabilis</em> strains in clinical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 177-182"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Male infertility makes up almost 50 % of infertility cases in couples. Contributing factors include urogenital abnormalities, hormone imbalances, and genetic mutations. Current research highlights the important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in male reproductive health, especially in regulating spermatogenesis. Altered expression of certain miRNAs have been linked to abnormal sperm issues like oligozoospermia (less number of sperm), asthenozoospermia (less sperm motility), and teratozoospermia(abnormal-shaped sperm). In this study, we looked at the potential of four candidate miRNAs, miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296, and miR-942, as biomarkers for male infertility.
Methodology
Sperm samples were obtained from subjects subdivided into four groups based on seminal criteria including teratozoospermia, oligzoospermia, ashenozoospermia, and normospermia(healthy control). In the sperm samples, RNA was extracted using the TRIzol method. We measured miRNA expression using real-time PCR. The assessment of miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296,and miR-942 as diagnostic tools was analyzed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC).
Results
The investigation indicated elevated values of miR-139 in the asthenozoospermia, but miR-34b higher in teratozoospermia and miR-942 was observed to be high in all 3 groups, while miR-296 was lower in the three study groups. The motif characteristics of the ROC indicated good diagnostic capabilities for miR-139 and miR-942, as the AUC value was 0.8 (for patients with asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia group).
Conclusion
The results have shown that miR-139 in asthenozoospermia and miR-942 in oligozoospermia can be new candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of male infertility. The use of miRNA in the diagnosis process can reveal several aspects of infertility and help to explore potential treatment in a more timely and targeted manner.
{"title":"MicroRNA alterations in sperm of infertile men: Insights into oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia","authors":"Manoharan Shunmuga Sundram , Sanjeeva Ready Nellapalli , Radha Vembu , Manjula Gopala Krishnan , Vettriselvi Venkatesan , Madhan Kalagara","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Male infertility makes up almost 50 % of infertility cases in couples. Contributing factors include urogenital abnormalities, hormone imbalances, and genetic mutations. Current research highlights the important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in male reproductive health, especially in regulating spermatogenesis. Altered expression of certain miRNAs have been linked to abnormal sperm issues like oligozoospermia (less number of sperm), asthenozoospermia (less sperm motility), and teratozoospermia(abnormal-shaped sperm). In this study, we looked at the potential of four candidate miRNAs, miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296, and miR-942, as biomarkers for male infertility.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>Sperm samples were obtained from subjects subdivided into four groups based on seminal criteria including teratozoospermia, oligzoospermia, ashenozoospermia, and normospermia(healthy control). In the sperm samples, RNA was extracted using the TRIzol method. We measured miRNA expression using real-time PCR. The assessment of miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296,and miR-942 as diagnostic tools was analyzed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The investigation indicated elevated values of miR-139 in the asthenozoospermia, but miR-34b higher in teratozoospermia and miR-942 was observed to be high in all 3 groups, while miR-296 was lower in the three study groups. The motif characteristics of the ROC indicated good diagnostic capabilities for miR-139 and miR-942, as the AUC value was 0.8 (for patients with asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia group).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results have shown that miR-139 in asthenozoospermia and miR-942 in oligozoospermia can be new candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of male infertility. The use of miRNA in the diagnosis process can reveal several aspects of infertility and help to explore potential treatment in a more timely and targeted manner.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 222-229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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