Critical Reviews in Biotechnology最新文献

The rise of chronic and acute infections has increased reliance on antimicrobial agents. However, conventional antimicrobials often fail to deliver optimal therapeutic outcomes due to limitations such as low bioavailability, poor biocompatibility, nonspecific targeting, drug-induced toxicity, and the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, the concept of a resistance-proof antimicrobial agent (RPAA) and its smart delivery was introduced to overcome the existing problem and a targeted delivery due to the specific properties, such as: high bioavailability, biocompatibility, low drug-induced toxicity, biodegradability, high binding capacity with the pathogen, multiple targeting delivery, etc. This system generates a positive impact and could quash the multidrug resistance problem. In this review, we discuss: the rationale for developing a nanoengineering-based smart-delivery system for RPAA, the advantageous properties of such a system, the possible mechanism of delivery, and challenges in the development of a nano-drug delivery therapeutics tool for RPAA delivery as a solution to combat the global problem of drug resistance. We emphasize the urgent need for the development of such a next-generation drug delivery system and discuss the opportunities/hurdles as well as the questions that remain to be addressed. The article is important because it sheds light on the properties of nanoengineered drug delivery that could initiate new ways of thinking about the development of future-generation delivery systems. The article shares a promising idea that would be an essential foundation for opening a new window in the field of drug discovery and development of the smart delivery system for RPAA.

Upon pathogen attack, cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels increase in plant cells. The first innate immune response is activated by detecting microbe/pathogen-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs/PAMPs) and is called PAMPs-triggered immunity (PTI). The second immune response is triggered by recognizing pathogens' effector proteins named effectors-triggered immunity (ETI). Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs or CPKs) are well-known calcium sensors that have a mediator role both in PTI and ETI. Calcium can bind to the elongation factor (EF)-hand domain at the C-terminus of CDPKs, which then phosphorylates substrates at the N-terminal catalytic kinase domain to transfer calcium signals directly. Improving the stress resilience of crops is a critical strategy in attaining global food security. In plants, when a stimulus is seen, there is an increase in Ca²⁺ concentration, which activates CDPKs which are in charge of sending out the immunological signals needed for disease tolerance. During the immune response, CDPKs are subject to numerous levels of regulation, including Ca²⁺ dependency to decipher various Ca²⁺ signals. Furthermore, salicylic acid (SA) regulation by CDPKs provides a comprehensive overview of CDPKs-mediated SA signaling during immune response in plants under pathogen attack. The critical part of CDPKs in SA biosynthesis, from the regulation of SA biosynthesis to how NPR1 perceives SA upon biotic stress, is comprehensively reviewed in this paper with the latest advancements in research. However, more research about CDPKs-mediated SA signaling under pathogen attack is mandatory to further dissect their co-role in crop protection against various diseases to achieve sustainable production goals in the future.

Global warming caused by CO₂ emissions has been considered as one of the major challenges of this century. In an endeavor to control and reduce CO₂ emissions, a series of Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies have been developed specifically for the sequestration of CO₂ from atmospheric air. Microalgae, as versatile and universal photosynthetic microorganisms, represent a promising avenue for biological CO₂ sequestration. Nevertheless, further advancements are necessary to optimize microalgae-based carbon sequestration technology in terms of light reaction and dark reaction. This review discusses the current status of microalgae-based artificial CO₂ sequestration technique, with a particular focus on the selection of CO₂-resistant species, optimization of cultivation for CO₂ sequestration, design of carbon concentration reactor, and the potential of synthetic biology to enhance CO₂ solubility and biofixation efficiency. Furthermore, a discussion of Life cycle assessment and Techno-economic analysis regarding microalgae-based carbon capture was performed. The aim of this comprehensive review is to stimulate further research into microalgae-based CO₂ sequestration, addressing challenges and opportunities for future development.

Reporter systems are gaining increasing popularity in modern molecular biology as they provide reliable and clear readouts for various types of assays, both in cellulo and in vivo. The generation of reporter cell lines is instrumental for screening activators and inhibitors of signaling pathways to develop new therapeutic approaches. Reporter cell lines are those with stably integrated reporter constructs containing signaling genes (often luciferase or fluorescent proteins), enabling the visualization and tracking of protein expression. Although seemingly harmless and straightforward, untargeted genomic integration of reporter genes may severely affect the expression of neighboring genes, causing unwanted and unpredictable effects. Unlike the untargeted approach, the CRISPR/Cas9 system provides a more precise method of reporter integration, especially when reporters are integrated into Safe Harbor loci. This ensures minimal influence on neighboring genomic regions. This review discusses recent advancements in creating reporter lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and experimental approaches for identifying suitable Safe Harbor loci.

A large amount of fruit and vegetable waste is generated after harvest, during processing from the food industry and along the supply chain due to fresh produce quality deterioration. Fruit and vegetable waste may impact various sectors, such as the environment, economy, and society. In the last two decades, several studies have tried to mitigate the impact of fruit and vegetable waste by developing and optimizing extraction methods, targeting specific compounds without considering the value and further utilization of the remaining wet residue. Recently, biorefinery systems have been explored and developed for the holistic valorization of fruit and vegetable waste. The current research aims to summarize recent studies examining the valorization of different fruit and vegetable by-products using a holistic biorefinery approach. The various steps in a biorefinery process are presented and discussed. Biorefinery systems should be chosen and developed considering the presence or absence of fat-soluble compounds (i.e., oils) in fruit and vegetable waste. In the current study, different biorefinery systems are proposed based on fruit and vegetable waste composition. In conclusion, the phytochemicals and products produced during the biorefinery process can benefit various industries, such as: the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, transportation, chemical, heating, agricultural, and horticultural industries. Future multidisciplinary studies are encouraged to investigate the techno-economic and environmental impacts of the biorefinery processes.

The increasing knowledge of the makeup and role of organ microbiomes has created new possibilities for understanding and managing human illnesses. The models used for animal studies conducted in laboratory settings and live animals may not always offer the necessary insights. One in vitro cell culture system known as organ-on-a-chip technology has garnered interest as a way to collect data that accurately reflects human responses. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology, while accurately simulating the function of tissues and organs, has largely covered the differences between animal and human systems. Microbiome-on-a-chip (MoC) offers benefits over other in vitro procedures, permitting dimensional observation of ecological dynamics, microbial growth, and host-associated interactions while regulating and assessing relevant environmental parameters such as pH and O₂ in real-time. The fabricated MoC platforms can be designed to test microbiome-enabled therapies, to study culture and pharmacology, antibiotic resistance, and to model multi-organ interactions mediated by the microbiome. In the current overview, we provide a translational perspective and discuss different organs, such as: oral, skin, gut and vaginal microbiota on a chip and recently developed MoC-based devices. The commonly used MoC fabrication methods, such as microfluidics and 3D printing, have been explored, and the potential applications of MoC in microbiome engineering have been suggested.

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.

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.

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.

A shellfish processing plant generates only 30-40% of edible meat, while 70-60% of portions are considered inedible or by-products. This large amount of byproduct or shellfish processing waste contains 20-40% chitin, that can be extracted using chemical or greener alternative extraction technologies. Chitin and its derivative (chitosan) are natural polysaccharides with nontoxicity, biocompatible, and biodegradable properties. Due to their versatile physicochemical, mechanical, and various bioactivities, these compounds find applications in various industries, including: biomedical, dental, cosmetics, food, textiles, agriculture, and biotechnology. In the agricultural sector, these compounds have been reported to promote: plant growth, plant defense system, slow release of nutrients in fertilizer, plant nutrition, and remediate soil conditions, etc. Whereas, biotechnology applications indicated: enhanced enzyme stability and efficacy, water purification and remediation, application in fuel cells and supercapacitors for energy conversion, acting as a catalyst in chemical synthesis, etc. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the utilization of these biopolymers in agriculture (fertilizer, seed coating, soil treatment, and bioremediation) and biotechnology (enzyme immobilization, energy conversion, wastewater treatment, and chemical synthesis). Additionally, various extraction techniques including conventional and non-thermal techniques have been reported. Lastly, concluding remarks and future direction have been provided.