BioTech最新文献

Heterologous protein expression often faces significant challenges, particularly when the target protein has posttranslational modifications, is toxic, or is prone to misfolding. These issues can result in low expression levels, aggregation, or even cell death. Such problems are exemplified by the expression of phospholipase p37, a critical target for chemotherapeutic drugs against pathogenic human orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox and smallpox viruses. The complex structure and broad enzymatic activity of phospholipase p37 render it toxic to host cells, necessitating specialized strategies for heterologous expression. In our study, we addressed these challenges using the vaccinia virus F13 protein as a model. We demonstrated that p37 can be effectively synthesized in E. coli as a GST fusion protein by co-expressing it with the GroEL/ES chaperone system and Trigger Factor chaperone.

An eight-week trial was designed to study the effects of arginine (Arg) supplemented diets on the growth, immunity, antioxidant activity, and oxygen-carrying capacity of juvenile Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). A total of 300 fish (27.53 ± 0.03 g) were randomized into 15 equal groups and fed on diets with graded Arg levels: 0 (control), 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% (w/w). The results showed that final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR) all increased and then declined with increasing levels of Arg supplementation, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed the opposite trend. In addition, the fish's whole-body crude protein and ash content had no remarkable difference at different levels of Arg addition (p > 0.05). Supplementation with 0.6% and 0.8% Arg significantly increased plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) activity (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the liver were not significantly different between the different levels of Arg supplementation (p > 0.05), while catalase (CAT) activity was significantly increased with 0.4% Arg supplementation levels (p < 0.05). The 0.8% Arg supplementation greatly increased the expression of hepatic-related genes to the Nrf2 signaling pathway, including sod and gpx (p < 0.05). However, the 0.8% Arg supplementation did not significantly increase the relative expression of genes related to the NF-κB signaling pathway, including il-1β, il-8, and tnf-α (p > 0.05). Similarly, the relative expression of hif-1 signaling pathway-related genes at 0.8% Arg supplementation was significantly elevated, including hif-1α, epo, and vegf (p < 0.05). Hence, Arg supplementation could promote growth and improve immune, antioxidant, and oxygen-carrying capacity in juvenile Gibel carp.

Sorghum distillers grains (SDGs) produced from a sorghum liquor company were used for generating biohydrogen via dark fermentation at pH 4.5-6.5 and 55 °C with a batch test, and the biohydrogen electricity generation potential was evaluated. The experimental results show that pH markedly affects hydrogen concentration, hydrogen production rate (HPR) and hydrogen yield (HY), in that high acidic pH values result in high values. The HPR and HY ranged from 0.76 to 3.2 L/L-d and 21.4 to 62.3 mL/g chemical oxygen demand, respectively. These hydrogen production values were used to evaluate bioelectricity generation using a newly developed gas/liquid-fuel engine. The results show a new and prospective biomass source for biohydrogen production, bioelectricity generation and simultaneously solving the problem of treating SDGs when producing kaoliang liquor. Applications of the experimental results are also discussed.

Cannabis sativa plants have been widely investigated for their specific compounds with medicinal properties. These bioactive compounds exert preventive and curative effects on non-communicable and infectious diseases. However, C. sativa extracts have barely been investigated, although they constitute an affordable option to treat human diseases. Nonetheless, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunogenicity effects have been associated with C. sativa extracts. Furthermore, innovative extraction methods in combination with nanoformulations have been proposed to increase desirable compounds' availability, distribution, and conservation, which can be aided by modern computational tools in a transdisciplinary approach. This review aims to describe available extraction and nanoformulation methods for C. sativa, as well as its known antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunogenic activities. Critical points on the use of C. sativa extracts in nanoformulations are identified and some prospects are envisaged.

(1) Background: Kiwifruit is a globally valued fruit. Its industrial processing produces a substantial amount of waste, particularly peels, which present an appealing potential source of bioactive compounds. This study focuses on optimizing the extraction of phenolics from kiwi peels using a water bath (WB) and infrared irradiation (IR) and assessing their biological activities. (2) Methods: Optimal conditions for polyphenol extraction from kiwifruit peels, in terms of temperature and time, were determined using Response Surface Methodology. Total phenolic content (TPC) was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and antioxidant activity was assessed utilizing the DPPH method. Antibacterial activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium were determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The lyophilized extract was tested for its anticancer effect on A549 lung cancer cell lines. The phytochemical profiles of the WB and IR extracts were analyzed through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). (3) Results: The optimal extraction conditions for the WB method were found to be 75 °C for 35 min, and 90 °C for 5 min for IR. The corresponding TPC obtained by IR was 21 mg GAE/g DM, which was 4.4 times higher than that obtained by WB (4.8 mg GAE/g DM). This indicates that IR was more efficient in extracting phenolics from kiwi peels. The antioxidant activity under the optimum conditions of WB and IR was 14 mg TE/g DM and 16 mg TE/g DM, respectively. Both the WB and IR extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against B. cereus with an MIC value of 25 mg/mL. Additionally, the IR extract displayed an antibacterial effect against S. aureus, with an MIC value of 50 mg/mL. The WB and IR kiwi peel extracts were effective in significantly reducing A549 cell viability at 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL, respectively. Caffeic acid (0.54 ppm) and catechin (5.44 ppm) were the major polyphenols identified in WB and IR extracts, as determined by HPLC. (4) Conclusions: IR was more efficient in extracting phenolics from kiwi peels than WB. The findings also suggest that kiwi peel can be effectively utilized as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer agent.

The white poplar (Populus alba) is a dioecious woody plant with significant potential for the phytoremediation of soils. To realize this potential, it is necessary to utilize growth-promoting microorganisms. One potential source of such beneficial microorganisms is the rhizosphere community of wild-growing trees. However, the structure, dynamics, and metabolism of the rhizosphere community of wild-growing white poplar remain poorly understood. To ascertain seasonal dynamics, species diversity, and metabolic potential, we sequenced 16S rRNA genes in metagenomes derived from 165 soil samples collected in spring and autumn from the root surfaces of 102 trees situated in disparate geographical locations. The three most prevalent phyla across all samples are Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. At the order level, the most prevalent orders are Sphingomonadales and Rhizobiales. Accordingly, the families Sphingomonadaceae and Rhizobiaceae were identified as dominant. The rhizospheric microbiome exhibited substantial inter-seasonal variation. Six families, including Caulobacteraceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Chthoniobacteraceae, Sphingomonadaceae, and Rhizobiaceae, exhibited alterations (spring-to-autumn) across all geographical locations under study. Members of the Rhizobiaceae family, which includes nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can provide poplar with plant-available forms of nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonium. The rhizosphere microbiome may facilitate the conversion of inorganic sulfur into sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine, that are bioavailable to plants. Furthermore, the rhizosphere microbiome is capable of synthesizing amino acids, organic acids (including Krebs cycle acids), and some lipids and sugars. Consequently, the rhizosphere community can stimulate poplar growth by providing it with readily available forms of nitrogen and sulfur, as well as building blocks for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules. Many of these pathways, including nitrogen fixation, were subjected to seasonal changes.

As aquaculture production grows, so does the demand for quality and cost-effective protein sources. The cost of fishmeal (FM) has increased over the years, leading to increased production costs for formulated aquafeed. Soybean meal (SBM) is commonly used as an FM replacer in aquafeed, but anti-nutritional factors could affect the growth, nutrition, and health of aquatic organisms. Cricket meal (CM) is an alternative source with a nutrient profile comparable to FM due to its high protein content, digestibility, and amino acid profile. CM use in aquafeed influences growth and reproductive performance while modulating the gut microbiota and immune response of fish and shrimp. However, consistent regulation and scaling up are necessary for competitive prices and the marketing of CM. Moreover, the chitin content in CM could be an issue in some fish species; however, different strategies based on food biotechnology can improve the protein quality for its safe use in aquafeed.

The livestock sector, essential for maintaining food supply and security, encounters numerous obstacles as a result of climate change. Rising global populations exacerbate competition for natural resources, affecting feed quality and availability, heightening livestock disease risks, increasing heat stress, and contributing to biodiversity loss. Although various management and dietary interventions exist to alleviate these impacts, they often offer only short-lived solutions. We must take a more comprehensive approach to understanding how animals adapt to and endure their environments. One such approach is quantifying transcriptomes under different environments, which can uncover underlying pathways essential for livestock adaptation. This review explores the progress and techniques in studies that apply gene expression analysis to livestock production systems, focusing on their adaptation to climate change. We also attempt to identify various biomarkers and transcriptomic differences between species and pure/crossbred animals. Looking ahead, integrating emerging technologies such as spatialomics could further accelerate genetic improvements, enabling more thermoresilient and productive livestock in response to future climate fluctuations. Ultimately, insights from these studies will help optimize livestock production systems by identifying thermoresilient/desired animals for use in precise breeding programs to counter climate change.

Biomanufacturing enables novel sources of compounds with constant demand, such as food coloring and preservatives, as well as new compounds with peak demand, such as diagnostics and vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for alternative sources of research materials, thrusting research on diversification of biomanufacturing platforms. Here, we show initial results exploring the walnut somatic embryogenic system expressing the recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) and ectodomain of the spike protein (Spike) from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Stably transformed walnut embryo lines were selected and propagated in vitro. Both recombinant proteins were detected at 3-14 µg/g dry weight of tissue culture material. Although higher yields of recombinant protein have been obtained using more conventional biomanufacturing platforms, we also report on the production of the red pigment betanin in somatic embryos, reaching yields of 650 mg/g, even higher than red beet Beta vulgaris. This first iteration shows the potential of biomanufacturing using somatic walnut embryos that can now be further optimized for different applications sourcing specialized proteins and metabolites.

Honey's many bioactive compounds have been utilized historically to cure infectious diseases. Beneficial effects are its antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-stimulating qualities. The bee species, geographic location, botanical origin, harvest season, processing, and storage conditions all affect honey's potential for therapeutic use. Honey contains a number of antioxidants and active compounds, such as polyphenols, which have been shown to have disease-preventive properties. Based on their origins, categories, and functions, the main polyphenols found in various honey varieties are examined in this review.