Biotechnology Journal最新文献

Over the last three decades, recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as highly promising therapeutics in the treatment and cure of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, neurological disorders, ophthalmologic disorders, viral neutralization, research reagents, and diagnostic tools. This has led to a rapid increase in the mAb market globally. Increased market demands have led researchers to develop hosts like mammalian cells, bacteria, fungi, yeast, insect cell lines, transgenic plants, and transgenic animals for increased mAb production. To surpass different challenges related to activity and production, different upstream strategies like antibody engineering, host cell engineering, media formulation, and bioreactor parameter optimization are being developed. The development of simple and low-cost downstream techniques is also one of the most important steps in antibody production for making an economically feasible process and product. The present review aims to briefly discuss the history of mAb production and current strategies used for the development and production of recombinant mAbs on a larger scale.

Trichoderma reesei, a filamentous fungus renowned for its exceptional secretion of cellulase. Its robust secretory capacity has sparked interest in its use as a host for producing heterologous proteins. However, yields of heterologous proteins remain critically low, presumably attributed to proteolytic degradation and the incompatibility of their robust transcription and secretory machinery, highly optimized for native cellulases with non-native proteins.

Strategies to enhance production are analyzed by reviewing nearly all the efforts, including promoter engineering to balance transcriptional strength with secretory capacity, signal peptide screening to modulate ER translocation efficiency, and fusing carrier proteins to bypass secretion bottlenecks. Proteolytic degradation as a major barrier has been mitigated through multi-protease gene deletions, synergized with process optimization approaches like culture pH optimization and protease inhibitors. Additionally, the drawbacks of key strategies are critically analyzed, emphasizing the need for empirical validation of improvements and limitations for some strategies—or risk exclusion—before implementing specific approaches.

Future research should focus on persistently developing genetically optimized strains with minimized protease activity, streamlined secretion pathways, and enhanced genetic manipulability. By systematically addressing these challenges, T. reesei could be engineered into a highly efficient host for the production of valuable proteins—from biofuels to therapeutics, advancing sustainable biomanufacturing.

Bacterial wilt in Solanum melongen is caused by the destructive soil-borne bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, which is characterized by a wide host range, soil persistence, and significant yield losses. This study explores the characterization and antibacterial effectiveness of bimetallic copper–selenium nanoparticles (Cu-Se-NPs) synthesized using Aspergillus niger, focusing on their role in enhancing systemic resistance in Solanum melongena against R. solanacearum. FTIR and XRD confirmed the successful biosynthesis of Cu-Se-NPs, displaying characteristic peaks and a crystalline structure. DLS revealed an NP size of 25 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.18 and an average zeta potential of −31 mV, indicating good stability. Antibacterial assays showed that Cu-Se-NPs effectively inhibited R. solanacearum, achieving a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 µg/mL, surpassing the effects of Na₂SeO₃ and Cu(CH₃COO)₂. Treatment with Cu-Se-NPs resulted in a 27.5% reduction in the disease index (DI), enhancing plant protection by 67.6%. Additionally, these NPs positively affected photosynthetic pigments, increasing chlorophyll and carotenoid levels while elevating total phenol and free proline content in infected plants. The activity of antioxidant enzymes increased significantly, indicating enhanced stress tolerance. These findings indicate the potential of Cu-Se-NPs as a novel biopesticide and nanofertilizer, promoting plant health and resilience against bacterial pathogens.

The naturally occurring Cephalotaxus species belonging to the Cephalotaxaceae family have been investigated due to the unique characteristics of their secondary phytometabolites with diverse biological activity. These metabolites have been isolated and used in different Chinese medicines for the treatment of different diseases, specifically for leukemia. However, the knowledge gap of relevant metabolites for biological activity is underscored. It has been reviewed that the most important alkaloids, such as Cephalotaxine-type alkaloids, homoerythrina-type alkaloids, and homoharringtonine (HHT), are abundant in Cephalotaxus lanceolata, C. fortunei var. alpina, C. griffithii, and C. hainanensis. Cephalotaxus alkaloids, particularly homoharringtonine (HHT), have emerged as promising anticancer agents with a unique mechanism of action and key oncogenic pathways. This review critically evaluates the understudied mechanisms of Cephalotaxus alkaloids in solid tumors, their translational barriers, and innovative strategies to harness their full anticancer potential. Additionally, we examine the challenges associated with their chemical complexity, regulatory hurdles, and toxicity profiles, alongside strategies to enhance efficacy through combination therapies and advanced drug delivery systems. The review highlights ongoing clinical trials and future directions, including synthetic biology and personalized medicine. By bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary research, this work highlights the potential of Cephalotaxus alkaloids as versatile agents in precision oncology.

Alginates and kappa-carrageenan (KC) are natural anionic biopolymers widely utilized in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries for their anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties. However, unmodified sodium alginate/KC (SA/KC) hydrogels often lack sufficient antimicrobial and antioxidant efficacy, limiting their functionality in advanced biomedical and packaging applications. To overcome these limitations, we designed a multifunctional hydrogel incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into an ascorbic acid-crosslinked SA/KC matrix. Comprehensive physicochemical, morphological, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytocompatibility assessments were conducted. The 2% AgNPs composite exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus), Gram-negative (E. coli, Salmonella sp.), and fungal strain (Candida albicans). The 2% AgNPs hydrogel was cytocompatible with normal Vero cells (IC₅₀ = 599.9 ± 3.47 µg/mL), while the 8% AgNPs variant demonstrated potent antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ of 21.77 µg/mL and 33.3 µg/mL via DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively). Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed strong interactions between hydrogel components and key binding site residues, ensuring composite stability. These results support the potential of AgNPs-enhanced SA/KC hydrogels for antimicrobial wound dressings, bioactive drug delivery matrices, and antioxidant-active food packaging materials.

CRISPR technologies are rapidly transforming agriculture by enabling precise and programmable modifications across a wide range of organisms. This review provides an overview of CRISPR applications in crops, livestock, aquaculture, and microbial systems, highlighting key advances in sustainable agriculture. In crops, CRISPR has accelerated the improvement of traits such as drought tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and pathogen resistance. In livestock and aquaculture, CRISPR has enabled disease-resistant pigs and poultry, hornless cattle, and fast-growing, stress-tolerant fish. Engineered microbes are also being leveraged to enhance nitrogen fixation and reduce input reliance. We examine the evolution of CRISPR tools, such as base and prime editing, multiplex editing, and epigenome modulation, that expand precision and control beyond traditional gene knockouts. These innovations offer significant advantages over conventional breeding, yet challenges remain, including off-target effects, delivery efficiency, and regulatory variability across countries. The review also explores emerging directions such as novel Cas variants and AI-integrated breeding platforms for high-throughput trait discovery. Together, these developments demonstrate the transformative potential of CRISPR technology to reshape agriculture, not only by enhancing productivity and resilience but also by reducing environmental impacts. With responsible implementation, CRISPR-enabled innovations are well-positioned to support global food security and sustainability targets by 2050.

Vaccines are pivotal in mitigating infectious diseases by reducing infection rates, severity, and mortality. Plant-derived vaccines—engineered to express antigens in plants, offer distinctive advantages, including cost-efficient production, enhanced biosafety profiles, superior thermal stability, and simplified logistics. Recent advances in plant biotechnology have enabled the large-scale production of plant-based vaccines, positioning them as a viable and transformative alternative to conventional vaccine platforms. This review synthesizes the latest advances, identifies key challenges, and explores future directions in plant-based vaccine development. By highlighting the transformative potential of plant biotechnology in vaccine manufacturing, this work underscores the critical role of plant biology in advancing global health.