3 Biotech最新文献

Microplastics in soil transform through interacting abiotic, microbial, and faunal processes that collectively determine their persistence and ecological impact. To establish a mechanistic understanding of these complex interactions, we systematically reviewed 150 studies following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesizing qualitative evidence on contamination patterns (n = 128) and quantitative data on microplastic occurrence, degradation mechanisms, and bioremediation potential (n = 22) across diverse terrestrial ecosystems. Principal component analysis of polymer distribution patterns identified polymer composition, residence time, soil physicochemical properties, and ecological risk factors as key determinants of microplastic fate in terrestrial systems. The study reveals that microplastic degradation in soils occurs through a sequential, multi-agent pathway. The process initiates with abiotic weathering that creates surface irregularities and functional groups, facilitating subsequent plastisphere development. Within these biofilm microenvironments, microbial communities accumulate oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes that drive enzymatic depolymerization, resulting in polymer fragmentation and partial to complete mineralization. Across studies, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene emerged as the most persistent polymers, while biodegradable alternatives exhibited accelerated transformation under favourable soil conditions. Earthworms critically amplify degradation through mechanical fragmentation, gut redox modification, and enrichment of degradative microbial communities, achieving upto 60% low-density polyethylene mass reduction. Their burrowing activity further extends degradation by improving soil aeration, moisture distribution, and microbial dispersal. These findings demonstrate that effective bioremediation requires coordinated interactions among polymer properties, soil conditions, microbial diversity, and earthworm activity, providing a mechanistic framework for developing soil-specific strategies to mitigate terrestrial microplastic pollution.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) often induces colitis, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Calcium dyshomeostasis is implicated in this process. This study investigates SARAF, a calcium influx channel inhibitor, in SAP-induced colitis.

Methods: The role of SARAF in SAP-induced colitis was investigated using LPS-stimulated NCM460 colonic cells and a caerulein-induced rat model. Techniques included Western blot, RT-qPCR, ELISA, calcium imaging, and histopathological analysis. SARAF was overexpressed to evaluate its effects on cell viability, inflammatory responses, and the H₂S/CSE/CBS and NO/iNOS pathways.

Results: SARAF expression was significantly downregulated in inflammatory conditions. SARAF overexpression reduced intracellular Ca²⁺ overload, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced cell viability. It suppressed the H₂S/CSE/CBS and NO/iNOS pathways at transcriptional and protein levels. In vivo, SARAF administration alleviated colonic histopathological damage, improved motility, reduced bowel movement frequency, and decreased serum NO levels. Histological scores showed significant improvement in inflammatory cell infiltration, crypt destruction, and epithelial damage.

Conclusion: SARAF protects against SAP-induced colitis by modulating the H2S/CSE/CBS and NO/iNOS pathways and restoring calcium homeostasis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for colitis intervention.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04687-7.

We aim to produce and characterize superfine bacterial cellulose (BC) obtained from cost-effective fermentation at 37 °C in coconut water (CW) using table sugar instead of sucrose as a carbon source. The low-cost BC with antibacterial activities was produced from the coculture fermentation of Komagataeibacter oboediens RC30-15 with Saccharomyces bayanus at 37 °C in CW0.5A3S0.5N containing 0.5% acetic acid, 3% table sugar or sucrose and 0.5% ammonium sulfate. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of BC film indicated no significant differences in BC fibrils' average diameter between BC produced from sucrose or sugar as a carbon source at either 30 or 37 °C. Moreover, there are no significant differences in the XRD patterns, FTIR spectra, and thermograms of BC produced from sucrose and sugar as carbon sources. Evaluation of antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated that BC produced from sugar exhibited a similar inhibitory effect to that produced from sucrose. Coculture fermentation of K. oboediens RC30-15 with S. bayanus in CW containing sugar not only reduces the medium cost from 1.12 USD/L to 0.20 USD/L (1 USD=32 baht) but also enhances the antibacterial activities of BC. Additionally, BC produced by coculture fermentation showed a higher inhibitory effect than that by mixed-culture fermentation of K. oboediens RC30-15, S. bayanus, and Pediococcus pentosaceus DMKU 14-7. Antibacterial activity of BC against a chloramphenicol resistant strain of P. aeruginosa is interesting and might be applied as a natural antimicrobial agent, providing an alternative to antibiotics in the future.

The emergence of personalized medicine represents a significant change in medicine and offers more accurate and personal approaches to treatment. Neurodegenerative diseases, based on progressive deterioration of the neurons, pose a considerable challenge because of their multifactorial etiological and heterogeneous clinical phenotypes. The present paper dwells on one of the prevalent neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease is linked to motor symptoms, which include bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, and posture instability. Parkinson's, as a significant movement disorder, reflects the urgency of the new treatment methods. The existing interventions, like Levodopa, Catechol-O-Methyltransferase inhibitors, and surgical procedures like Deep Brain Stimulation, are used as the current interventions. Nonetheless, these therapeutics cannot work in all patients with great success, and the response of the patients to them differs greatly. This contradiction especially highlights the gap in the contemporary paradigms of treatment and the need to transition into more individualized approaches. The use of personalized medicine with Parkinson's Disease marks a shift in the historically used one-size-fits-all approach, instead shifting to a more personalized approach. Through genetic, biomarker, and phenotypic information, personalized medicine will enhance the accuracy of diagnosis, disease progression forecasting, and treatment regimes. This literature review provides an explanation of the need for personalized medicine in Parkinson's, discusses the latest developments, techniques, limitations, and analyzes the innovative technologies and strategies. By identifying key developments and ongoing challenges, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how personalized medicine could transform the future of Parkinson's disease management.

Neuronal death in Parkinson's disease (PD) is driven by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and α-synuclein aggregation. This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18βGA) in a chronic MPTP/probenecid (MPTP/p)-induced mouse model of PD. Behavioural assessments demonstrates that 18βGA significantly ameliorated MPTP/p-induced motor impairments. Biochemical analyses revealed that 18βGA markedly restored the activities of electron transport chain complexes I-V, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and preserved mitochondrial membrane potential disrupted by MPTP/p exposure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) further showed that 18βGA reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-1β), restored antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Immunoblotting and Immunofluorescence analysis revealed preservation of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive dopaminergic neurons, accompanied by reduced α-synuclein accumulation and decreased BiP (GRP78) expression in the substantia nigra. Western blot analyses confirmed downregulation of ER stress markers (BiP and CHOP), inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and NF-κB), and pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and cleaved caspase-3), along with upregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 and activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway following 18βGA treatment. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that 18βGA exerts robust neuroprotective effects by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ER stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for Parkinson's disease.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04757-4.

Cladosporium variabile (C. variabile) is a potential taxane-producing endophytic fungus; however, its intrinsic production of anticancer taxane metabolites remains low. This investigation systematically bridges this gap by integrating biotechnological strategies e.g., optimization (including acidity, carbon and nitrogen source), elicitation, computational modeling, and molecular dynamics (MD). It was found that pH 6.0 led to the taxane fermentation of 7.4 µg gFW^- 1. Malt 5.0% (w/v) at pH 6.0 boosted the growth and taxane yield by 1.3 fold. At pH 6.0, malt 5.0% (w/v) and ammonium sulfate 5.0 mM significantly enhanced the taxane production to 24.62 µg gFW^- 1. Pectin elicitation further amplified this yield by 31-fold, achieving 233 µg gFW^- 1 at day 14. Mathematical modeling indicated that the optimal pH range for the growth and taxane fermentation was between 5.4 and 6.3. Moreover, modeling the concentrations of malt and ammonium sulfate predicted improvements in both growth and taxane yield, offering valuable approaches for medium optimization. MD simulations of taxadiene synthase (TXS) revealed key molecular interactions between TXS and pectin, particularly involving residues Lys873, Val415, Arg421, and Pro661. Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis determined that pectin binding significantly stabilized TXS, decreasing the average RMSD from 4.7 Å to 3.1 Å and reducing backbone fluctuations. These findings highlight the potential of optimized fermentation and sustainable elicitation strategies to address current limitations in taxane production. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations provided insights into key binding interactions, offering a foundation for improved biotechnological applications and sustainable platforms for taxane biosynthesis.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04704-3.

Fungal symbionts in plant roots and leaves drive ecosystem functionality by enhancing nutrient acquisition for plants and influencing plant biomass and productivity. Therefore, investigating variations in fungal communities across roots and leaves, as well as identifying the drivers of these variations, is crucial for understanding biological, abiotic factors, and microbial interactions. We utilized high-throughput Illumina HiSeq sequencing to characterize the structural and functional diversity of leaf and root endosphere (RE) fungal microbiota associated with Alhagi sparsifolia across three arid regions (Taklimakan [Cele], Gurbantünggüt [Mosuowan], and Kumtag [Turpan]) in northwest China's Xinjiang province. Our study found that the relative abundance of Ascomycota within the RE was much higher than that observed in the leaf endosphere (LE). Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were dominant in the RE. However, the niche width and multi-functionality of LE fungi were significantly lower than those of RE fungi. The number of edges, nodes, and the average degree of LE fungi were lower than those of RE across different regions and interannual variations. In Turpan, the edges, nodes, and average degree of LE fungi were higher compared to the other two sampling sites (Cele and Mosuowan), whereas RE fungi exhibited the opposite trend. Redundancy analysis and hierarchical partitioning results showed that precipitation, temperature, and root total phosphorus were the main common factors that significantly affected the variation in the composition of leaf and RE fungal community (P < 0.05). Interestingly, total potassium content in leaves, roots, and soil was found to correlate with the diversity of fungi in both the leaf and RE. This research enhances our comprehension of the ecological significance of endophytic fungi in desert plants and highlights the need for further research on the symbiotic interactions that underpin the survival and adaptation of plants in harsh environments.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04743-w.

Silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized using an aqueous extract of the brown seaweed Sargassum polycystum and evaluated for their neuroprotective potential in an aluminium chloride (AlCl₃)-induced zebrafish model of neurotoxicity. Physicochemical characterization confirmed stable, spherical nanoparticles with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 445 nm, nanoscale size distribution, and negative zeta potential, indicating good colloidal stability. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS assays. Embryo toxicity assessment demonstrated biocompatibility at lower concentrations, while higher doses produced concentration associated developmental toxicity. In adult zebrafish, AlCl₃ exposure induced significant locomotor impairment, anxiety-like behaviour, and cognitive deficits. Co-treatment with AgNPs, particularly at 100 µg/L, significantly improved locomotor activity, reduced anxiety-associated behaviours, and restored learning and memory performance. Biochemical analyses showed a significant reduction in malondialdehyde levels and acetylcholinesterase activity in AgNP-treated groups, indicating Attenuation of oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction. Histopathological evaluation further confirmed preservation of neuronal architecture and reduced neurodegeneration following AgNP treatment. Based on the results indicate that S. polycystum derived silver nanoparticles provide concentration associated neuroprotection against aluminium chloride -induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish and May represent a promising green nanotherapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disorders.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04716-z.

Hepatic fibrosis was induced in Swiss albino mice by intraperitoneal administration of CCl₄ (1 mL/kg, twice weekly) for 8 weeks, followed by oral treatment with Glycosmis pentaphylla methanolic extract (GPME) at 200 or 400 mg/kg/day or silymarin (50 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. GPME treatment dose-dependently restored liver function by significantly reducing elevated serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels, ameliorated histological damage with decreased collagen deposition and preserved hepatocyte ultrastructure as evidenced by H&E staining, IHC, TEM, and SEM, and lowered hepatic hydroxyproline content. It further modulated inflammatory responses by upregulating anti-inflammatory IL-10 while downregulating pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-6, and attenuated oxidative stress by enhancing SOD, CAT, and GSH activities while reducing MDA levels. Western blot and IHC analyses confirmed suppression of TGF-β, α-SMA expression, and Smad2/3 phosphorylation. GC-MS and LC-MS profiling identified 37 bioactive compounds, of which three leads exhibited strong binding affinities (-7.2 to -8.2 kcal/mol) to TGFβR1 in molecular docking studies. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GPME effectively mitigates CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis through inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling, reduction of oxidative stress, and modulation of inflammatory responses, supporting its potential as a natural anti-fibrotic agent.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04750-x.

Despite the industrial relevance of fungal amylases, those from Penicillium crustosum remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to use a proteomics-based approach to identify and characterize extracellular amylases from P. crustosum UEM-45. The extracellular proteome of P. crustosum UEM-45 was analyzed by LC-MS/MS, resulting in the identification of seven amylases among 1,641 extracellular proteins. An α-amylase (CAZy GH13_1) and a glucoamylase (CAZy GH15) were partially purified and characterized. Both enzymes exhibited molecular masses of approximately 67 kDa, were predicted to be monomeric, and to contain a CBM20 module in addition to their catalytic domains. The α-amylase exhibited optimal activity at pH 6.5 and 40 °C, whereas the glucoamylase showed optimal activity at 45 °C. The melting temperatures (T _m) of the α-amylase and glucoamylase were 50.16 °C and 47.8 °C, respectively. Both enzymes were stable at 4 °C. The K _M values for starch were 0.98 mg/mL for the α-amylase and 4.51 mg/mL for the glucoamylase, whereas the V _max was 0.12 mg/min of starch consumed by the α-amylase and 0.3 µmol/min of glucose released by the glucoamylase. Regulatory and substrate specificity assays revealed distinct profiles. When combined, the enzymes efficiently converted starch into glucose and degraded raw starch. Overall, this study demonstrates that proteomics is effective for discovering novel amylolytic enzymes in P. crustosum. Notably, the characterization of a glucoamylase from this fungus contributes to the limited body of knowledge on this enzyme in Penicillium. The liquefaction and saccharification capabilities of the combined enzymes highlight their potential for industrial starch processing.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04728-9.