Critical Reviews in Biotechnology最新文献

In recent years, pectinase, a vital enzyme in diverse manufacturing sectors, including: food and beverage industries, bioenergy, textile and paper industries, etc., has inspired the scientific community to delve its: sustainable, eco-friendly, efficient, and sufficient production. Pectinase demand is perpetually rising, requiring effective mass production solutions. This study examines the various sources and improvements made in the recent years at large-scale pectinase production. The article highlighted various fermentation strategies, agro-wastes, and types of bioreactor technology utilized for pectinase production. Further: statistical tools, research designs and optimization approaches, immobilization techniques, and purification and molecular engineering approaches were also explored, accounting pectinase production. The current work aims to provide the valuable insights for: researchers, academicians, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, in advancing sustainable and efficient large-scale production of pectinase, thus, broadening and boosting pectinase production for the targeted applications.

Fungal natural products (FNPs) are an important class of natural medicines. Genome sequencing has uncovered an unexpectedly large number of silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in fungi that hold potential for FNP production. However, activating silent BGCs in native hosts is hindered by undesirable traits, such as difficulty in genetic manipulation or exhibiting extremely low metabolite titers. With the development of synthetic biology, heterologous expression systems are increasingly becoming the preferred option to overcome these limitations. In this review, we first summarize the major structural classes of FNPs and the corresponding backbone enzymes. We then evaluate the key features of various microbial chassis and strategies employed for pathway refactoring to achieve efficient heterologous expression. Furthermore, we discuss optimization strategies that enhance pathway flux toward the target product and minimize by-product formation. These methodologies are essential for advancing heterologous platforms for FNP discovery and biosynthesis. Additionally, we analyze current challenges and propose solutions to further improve microbial chassis for more effective FNP production.

Cadmium (Cd²⁺) pollution possesses severe risks to human health and the ecosystem due to its high toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation potential. Conventional remediation methods, such as chemical precipitation, membrane filtration and ion exchange, are often costly, inefficient and unsustainable. In contrast, microalgae-based bioremediation has emerged as a promising approach due to its ability of biosorption, bioaccumulation and biotransformation. Microalgae possess unique metabolic and structural attributes, including: abundant extracellular metal binding sites, polymeric substances, intracellular chelators and the ability of Cd-nanoparticles (CdSeNPs, CdSNPs) formation enabling efficient Cd²⁺ sequestration and detoxification. Despite these advantages, large-scale application remains limited due to gaps in understanding of key regulatory mechanisms. This review highlights the detailed mechanism of the microalgae-based Cd²⁺ remediation process, identifies critical factors influencing remediation efficiency and potential microalgae strain's efficiency in Cd²⁺ removal. Furthermore, the utilization of genetic engineering for enhancing remediation efficiency by targeting key metal transporters, chelators, and stress-response pathways and potential candidate gene are also highlighted. These biotechnological advances and the understanding of the microalgae mediated remediation process presents a promise for a large scale efficient, sustainable Cd²⁺ bioremediation approach.

Fungi have emerged as powerful biological agents in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated environments due to their robust enzymatic systems, adaptability, and ecological relevance. This review critically examines their potential, highlighting enzymatic mechanisms and technological innovations that underpin this sustainable approach. Case studies with: Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., and Trametes sp. demonstrate, through complex enzyme systems (laccases, lignin, manganese, and versatile peroxidases), the ability to degrade toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and BTEX, converting them into less harmful metabolites or even reusable by-products. Integrated strategies, including: biostimulation, bioaugmentation, microbial consortia, and the application of biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers, further enhance fungal efficiency in heterogeneous environments. Emerging innovations such as enzyme immobilization, myco-nanoremediation, and genetic engineering are discussed as promising solutions to overcome the inherent limitations of contaminant degradation under adverse conditions. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, including the complexity of fungal metabolic pathways, gaps in proteomic regulation, and persistent obstacles in scaling and field reproducibility, which currently restrict large-scale commercial application. The alignment of fungal bioremediation with circular economy principles is emphasized, particularly the transformation of oil-derived pollutants into economically valuable bioproducts. Although fungal-based technologies remain underexplored commercially, especially in relation to regulatory frameworks and strategic partnerships, with this gap being especially evident in the Brazilian context, this review provides a robust foundation for advancing the application of fungi in sustainable environmental recovery. By integrating mechanistic insights with technological innovations and regulatory perspectives, it addresses a critical gap in the literature and outlines future directions for the field.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death and strains healthcare systems significantly. Early diagnosis is crucial and can be achieved through cardiac biomarker assessment, which enables timely treatment and reduces mortality rates. Traditional diagnostic methods require large hospital equipment for electrocardiography and laboratory analysis, leading to lengthy procedures. To address this, there is increasing interest in advanced biosensing technologies for rapid CVD marker screening. Advances in nanotechnology and bioelectronics have led to new biosensor platforms that offer rapid detection, accurate quantification, and continuous monitoring. This comprehensive review focuses on blood-based RNA cardiac biomarkers, which are widely used in clinical settings, and examines the development of electrochemical nanobiosensors for detecting RNA biomarkers. It provides a thorough evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks of these biosensing devices and offers insights into future research directions for electrochemical nanobiosensors in CVD, particularly those based on RNA markers.

Enzymes are highly efficient biocatalysts known for their chemical, regio-, and stereoselectivity, making them valuable in industrial applications. While directed evolution has expanded the scope of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, the range of enzymatic reactions remains limited compared to reactions catalyzed by chemical catalysts. Computational enzyme design has achieved de novo enzyme design, but the approach is often complex, time-intensive, and has a low success rate. A promising strategy to design novel enzymes involves developing noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) with catalytic potential and integrating them into protein scaffolds via genetic codon expansion technology. This method combines the novel reactivity of ncAAs with the high selectivity provided by protein scaffolds, significantly enhancing the diversity of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. This review discusses recent advancements in novel enzyme design using ncAAs, including those being used as catalytic groups, metal-coordinating groups, heme ligands, and photocatalytic groups. The article emphasizes the broad potential of using ncAAs in enzyme design to expand the diversity of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and outlooks the potential applications of artificial intelligence technology in this area.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are an ecologically and physiologically diverse group that synthesizes intracellular nanoparticles, known as magnetosomes (biomagnetic minerals), enabling them to navigate along geomagnetic field lines through microbial magnetoreception. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MTB research from 1979 to 2024, encompassing (i) the cultivation approach, (ii) diverse ecosystems, such as: volcanic lakes, coral reefs, paleosols, acidic peatland, and deep-sea hydrothermal fields, and (iii) ecological and evolutionary studies. To date only two phyla, Pseudomonadota (specifically Alphaproteobacteria, Desulfobacterota, and Gammaproteobacteria) and Nitrospirota have been reported for magnetosomes based biomineralization. Recent advancements in methodologies, including: cultivation-independent approach to survey Magnetosome Gene Cluster (MGCs), 16S rRNA gene characterization, and Cultivation dependent approach for successful isolation of an axenic culture/s of novel MTB strains from diverse ecosystems. The review also highlights the significance of MTB-derived Magnetofossils from paleoenvironmental sediments and emphasizes the importance of Cultivation-independent approach using group-specific primers and alphaproteobacterial sets of primers for direct detection of MTB from the environmental samples. Furthermore, the expanding application of magnetosomes in biotechnology, such as: magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment, targeted drug delivery, MTB-based microrobots for isolation of pathogens, and environmental remediation (e.g., pollutant and heavy metal removal from waste water), are discussed.

Fucoidan is a sulfate-containing polysaccharide present in the cell wall of brown algae. It ensures the survival of the algae in the marine environment by providing protection against desiccation and osmotic stress. This review explores the structural diversity, synthesis, extraction methods, and application potential of fucoidan of brown algae with a focus on its bio-stimulant activities in plants. The structural variation of fucoidan in brown algae depends on various parameters, and it is the key factor for determining its biological activities. The synthesis of this polysaccharide takes place in the Golgi bodies, and it involves several steps for the polymerization and further modifications. Extraction and purification of this polysaccharide from the algal biomass involve several steps, and choosing the appropriate method is crucial for achieving maximum yield. As a complex heterogeneous polysaccharide, fucoidan possesses diverse biological activities, such as: anticancer, anticoagulant, antioxidant, immunomodulatory effects. Nowadays fucoidan is a topic of intense research, and studies are ongoing to explore its potential applications. This review also focuses on explaining bio-stimulant application in plants along with its potential application in: cancer research, tissue engineering, drug delivery, food coating and as an edible film and storage material for fruits with a particular emphasis on its role in promoting plant growth and enhancing stress tolerance.

Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) is a powerful tool for understanding and controlling the evolutionary trajectories of microorganisms. The scope of applications extends widely, including areas such as: biotechnology, synthetic biology, microbial ecology, and fundamental evolutionary research. In this work, we systematically explore the implementation and advantages of mini-bioreactors, defined as reactors with working volumes below 0.5 L, in ALE experiments. Mini-bioreactors offer substantial improvements over traditional large-scale reactors, including: reduced costs, enhanced parallelization capabilities, customizable configurations, and ease of automation. Through the utilization of illustrative case studies, which facilitate a comparative and critical evaluation of: batch, chemostat, turbidostat, and morbidostat operational modes, this review underscores the distinct capabilities of mini-bioreactors in enabling precise, dynamic control of evolutionary pressures. The novelty of this review lies in its comprehensive synthesis of recent advancements in mini-bioreactor technologies and operational strategies, particularly emphasizing innovations, such as: integrated automation, advanced sensors, and novel control algorithms adapted or specially designed for ALE. The ultimate objective is to provide both novices and experienced researchers with an updated, in-depth resource that addresses current technological limitations and future directions of mini-bioreactors in ALE.

B vitamins are the most widely used supplements for women and children to maintain good health conditions. Vitamin B deficiency is prevalent in many countries including India and South Africa. Synthetic vitamins (such as folic acid) are administered orally to vulnerable groups to address the vitamin B deficiency. B vitamin-fortified foods have also been adopted as the mandate of the governments of India and South Africa. However, the policies have not been able to bring any sustainable solutions to vitamin B deficiency. This article describes the natural production of B vitamins by cultured microorganisms. Furthermore, this article describes the scope of microbial B vitamin availability in India and South Africa through dietary interventions (foods obtained from microbial processing/fermented food products). The article also elucidates the different fermented foods of India and South Africa and the increment of different B vitamins, namely riboflavin (vitamin B2), folate (vitamin B9), and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) during the fermentation. The technoeconomical feasibility and commercial aspects have been discussed in the article.