Recent patents on biotechnology最新文献

The world is on the cusp of a post-antibiotic period. A century ago, before the advent of antibiotics, bacteriophage therapy was the treatment of choice for bacterial infections. Although bacteriophages have yet to be approved as a treatment in Western medicine, researchers and clinicians have begun to anticipate phage therapy. Bacteriophages are viruses that depend on bacterial cell metabolism to multiply. They offer a promising alternative to the use of antibiotics and an excellent antibacterial option for combating multidrug resistance in bacteria. However, not every phage is suitable for phage therapy. In particular, prophages should not be used because they can lysogenize host cells instead of lysing them. To offer adequate therapeutic options for patients suffering from various infectious diseases, a wide selection of different phages is needed. While there is no evidence of direct toxicity induced by phage particles, it is crucial to study mammalian cell-phage interactions. This requires phage preparations to be free of bacterial cells, toxins and other compounds to avoid skewing host responses. Negative staining of purified viruses and electron microscopy remain the gold standard in the identification of bacteriophages. Interestingly, genomics has greatly changed our understanding of phage biology. Bacteriophage genome sequencing is essential to obtain a complete understanding of the bacteriophages' biology and to obtain confirmation of their lifestyle. Full genetic sequencing of bacteriophage will enable a better understanding of the phage-encoded proteins and biomolecules (especially phage lytic enzymes) involved in the process of bacterial cell lysis and death. Mass spectrometry can be used for the identification of phage structural proteins. The use of lytic phages as biocontrol agents requires the most appropriate and standard methods to ensure application safety. This review pursues recent research and methods in molecular biology for the isolation and characterization of phages to facilitate follow-up and implementation of work for other researchers. Patents related to this topic have been mentioned in the text.

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an autoimmune disease that distress keratinized cells of the oral epithelium. Topical corticosteroids and other potential therapies like immunosuppressives, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, mycophenolate, dapsone, retinoids, biologic agents are used for the management of OLP. However, their effectiveness, best dose, duration of treatment and safety remain mostly unidentified. Moreover, recurrence of disease and dose-related side effects are the other issues.

Objective: The primary objective of the review is to explore the existing clinical trials for the efficacy of phytochemicals in treating OLP in comparison to corticosteroids. A comprehensive information about their mode of action is also discussed.

Methods: We have discussed different clinical trials conducted on various phytochemicals and plant extracts/formulations like curcumin, lycopene, quercetin, glycyrrhizin, purslane, raspberry, aloe vera gel and aloe vera mouthwash for the treatment of OLP.

Results: The current therapy for the management of OLP has numerous adverse effects and requires a long-term treatment. Phytochemicals can be a very good alternative in overcoming these side effects and reducing the course of treatment.

Conclusion: Herbal extracts and their formulations can be an effective alternative to the current therapy due to their proven therapeutic effects, reduced side effects, long-term applicability, prevention of recurrence as well as progression into cancer.

Background: Kidney disease is a universal public health problem, and epidemiological studies demonstrated that the incidences of chronic kidney disease are increasing day by day. However, the efficiency of currently available drugs on the progression of nephropathy is limited. Therefore, the current research was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of captopril and BQ123 against hyperlipidemia-induced nephropathy in rats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the implication of Endothelin-1 in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic nephropathy in rats.

Methods: Animals were divided into various groups, and the administration of a high-fat diet for six weeks induced hyperlipidemia. After confirmation of hyperlipidemia, treatment was started for the next 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed, and various biochemical parameters and histopathological studies were performed.

Results: Treatment of both the agents in combination effectively decreased BUN levels, serum creatinine, serum nitrite, and proinflammatory markers and ameliorated the pathological injuries to kidneys.

Conclusion: Furthermore, both treatments also inhibited oxidative stress and restored the hyperlipidemia-induced reduction in the level of antioxidant enzymes.

The enzyme α-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.20) catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-1,4- glucopyranoside bond in oligosaccharides and disaccharides, and thus plays an essential role in regulating glucose content and the level of postprandial hyperglycemia. The inhibition of α-glucosidases is considered a viable strategy to develop new and effective antidiabetic drugs. Many patents like ZA201905405B; US9073897B2 have been published on α- glucosidase inhibitors. In recent years, several classes of fungal metabolites possessing a varying degree of α-glucosidases inhibitory activity have been reported. The primary chemical classes include xanthone, phenanthrene, terpenoid, coumarin, isocoumarin, naphthalene, piperazine, and polyketides. Few of the identified inhibitors exhibited severalfold better activities than well-known α-glucosidases inhibitor acarbose and can be used as a lead to develop new antidiabetic drugs. The present review highlights the recent development in the identification of α-glucosidases inhibitors from various fungal sources. Their chemical class, structures, and inhibitory activity in terms of IC₅₀ or MIC are discussed here.

Background: Biosurfactants are natural bioactive compounds produced from fungi, bacteria and plants. These molecules have several properties that enable them to be involved in various industrial applications. The surface-active properties of biosurfactants allow their use in various sectors, such as agriculture, health, cosmetics, bioremediation/ petroleum, mining, and bioprocess.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the patents deposited in intellectual property databases for applications of biosurfactants in the areas of agriculture, health, cosmetics, bioremediation/petroleum, mining, and bioprocesses, with the research period consisting of the last six years.

Methods: This study targeted the use of biosurfactants in various industrial sectors. The patent search was carried out using the Google Patents platform, a platform that is commonly used for this purpose and freely accessible.

Results: During the search for patents related to applications of biosurfactants in industry filed in the last 6 years, results were found to be distributed in the following areas: agriculture (70), cosmetics (2311), bioremediation/petroleum (179), health (1794), mining (5), and bioprocess (133). Six patents were selected from each area, except for health and mining, for which the search resulted in only 5 and 4 patents, respectively, to be discussed and provide information on the biotechnological applications of biosurfactants in the industry.

Conclusion: The present study showed a wide area of application of biosurfactants in industry. The interest in the inclusion of biosurfactants in the industry is directly related to the need for more sustainable solutions to solve real market problems. The cosmetics sector presented the most patents that employ the use of biosurfactants.

Background: Interest in natural pigments has grown due to the negative aspects caused by synthetic options, which trigger damage to the body and the environment. Research with natural pigments produced by microorganisms becomes viable in relation to other pigments extracted from animals or plants, as microorganisms have advantages in terms of versatility and productivity. Thus, production technologies are protected by patents.

Methods: To evaluate the evolution of research and technological development on producing natural pigments by different microorganisms through scientific and technological prospection. Scientific prospecting was done by searching articles published from 2010 to 2020 in the Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. Technological prospecting was carried out with patents obtained from the European Patent Office (ESPACENET) database.

Results: The searches were based on the keywords "pigment" and "dye" crossed with microalgae, fungi, bacteria and yeast. A total of 2.811 articles and 451 patents were selected. Scientific prospecting has shown interest in alternative cultivation media, and among the microorganisms that produce pigments, fungi and microalgae are the most studied.

Conclusion: Technological prospecting showed that 375 (83%) recovered patent documents refer to the protection of pigment extraction and production techniques and that the largest patent holders are private companies, followed by Chinese universities.

Background: Lippia adoensis Hoechst var. adoensis (wild variety) and variety koseret (cultivated variety) have been used as traditional medicine, condiments, and endemic to Ethiopia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties and biological activities of oil extracts from seed and leaves of koseret (L. adoensis var. koseret).

Methodology: Soxhlet apparatus was used for oil extraction using hexane as a solvent. The oil quality assessment was based on oil yield, acid value, percent free fatty acid, and peroxide value, while the biological activities were investigated based on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antimicrobial experiment was arranged as 2 x1x4 in a completely randomized factorial design with three replications.

Results: The result indicated that significantly higher oil yield (2.25%), acid value (2.66%) and free fatty acid (1.34%) were recorded for seed oil using the solvent extraction method. Leaf oil was recorded to have significantly higher values of DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl), ascorbic acid and total carotenoid contents, but a lower value of hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity indicated that leaf oil presented higher antioxidant activity than seed oil in koseret. The koseret leaf oil demonstrated stronger antibacterial activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (14.50±0.21 mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 0.25 μg/ml) and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC, 0.25 μg/ml) against S. aureus. Furthermore, leaf oil has also presented stronger antifungal activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (14.83 mm), MIC (0.25 μg/ml), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC, 0.50 μg/ml) against Aspergillus versicolor.

Conclusion: It can be concluded from the results of this study that leaf oil extract has demonstrated better biological activities, including both antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials, than seed oil in koseret.

Background: Nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology have emerged as novel technologies for the production and application of nanoscale materials in different pharmaceutical, medical, and biological fields. Besides, there are a bunch of recently published patents in this field. Although Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have various advantages and can be applied for a wide variety of purposes, their toxicity on humans is a matter of concern.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate six different types of CNTs, including pristine, carboxylated, and hydroxylated single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) on three human cell lines.

Methods: MTT assay was employed to assess the cytotoxicity of six types of CNTs, including pristine, carboxylated, and hydroxylated forms of SWCNTs and MWCNTs on three different human cell lines.

Results: The findings of the MTT assay showed that the six different types of CNTs (100- 600 μg/mL) exhibited different levels of cytotoxicity on the three human cell lines. The observed trend presented dose-dependent cytotoxicity on the three studied cell lines, including pulmonary, skin, and gastrointestinal cell lines. SWCNT-COOH and MWCNTs accounted for the lowest cell viability in the three human cell lines.

Conclusion: In conclusion, researchers and industrial workers are recommended to be cautious while working with different types of CNT because all their toxicity dimensions have not been determined yet.

Background: Rubella, caused by the Rubella virus (RV), is considered a mild self-limited illness. However, RV has teratogenic potential. Laboratory investigation plays an important role in both diagnosis and surveillance of the disease. The main methods for diagnosing Rubella are serological assays for the detection of specific IgM and molecular assays for detecting viral RNA. However, some laboratories perform IgG avidity testing, virus isolation and analysis of genetic sequence as tools to help Rubella eradication. The importance of the diagnosis of Rubella involves the appropriate treatment of the disease, because the Rubella clinical symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, and the population monitoring to avoid new emergent cases. This study addresses different methods of diagnosing Rubella and contributes as a source of knowledge to assist health systems in controlling the disease.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to review the available patents regarding Rubella diagnosis published in intellectual property databases, and provides an overview of the technologies available for the diagnosis of Rubella.

Method: The search strategy was based on the keywords searched separately or together using a Boolean operator either in the patent title or abstract the time interval was restricted to patents filed or granted from January 2009 until February 2022. The database used was Google Patents.

Results: This study analyzed 24 patent documents regarding strategies for the diagnosis of Rubella. Of these, 15 patents disclose strategies for detecting Rubella antibodies, 7 patents the detection of Rubella virus nucleic acid, and 2 patents the production of antibodies applied in Rubella diagnosis.

Conclusion: Rubella is still a public health problem in some countries, mainly those in development, especially due to congenital Rubella syndrome, which can cause malformation or fetal death. However, its diagnosis is challenging, due to similarity of symptoms with other diseases, and for this reason, laboratory diagnosis is essential. Studies like this encourage researchers and governments to invest in research to continue the development of new products, using different areas of biotechnology, to solve society's problems, especially diseases that have an impact on global health, such as Rubella.

Background: This review highlights the folklore, ethnomedicinal uses and conservation status of Caesalpinioideae in Uttar Pradesh (India).

Aims: It aims at compiling available data on traditional medicine, biological activity, phytochemical information and assessing the regional red list status of Caesalpinioideae in Uttar Pradesh. The information provided would help in formulating new drugs and medicines and addressing global conservation issues of such medicinally exploited species.

Methods: The current study included an extensive and systematic review of available literature, the study of previous collections of herbarium specimens, random interviews with locals and tribals, field surveys, and GeoCAT tool-based assessment during 2016-2020. The study reports that the majority of species of Caesalpinioideae are used for curing digestive problems (about 20 species) and skin diseases (19 species).

Results: Almost all the species have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These pharmacological activities can be attributed to the presence of various types of anthraquinones in plants.

Conclusion: The regional conservation status reveals that eight species qualified for the status of regionally threatened category while two species fall under the near threatened category.